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LSSIONARY 
HEROINE 

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SOUTH CHINA 



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Copyrights 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



AdaB 



eeson r armer 



A Missionary Heroine 
o/KuaiiQ Si 



South China 



Written and compiled by her husband 

Rev. Wilmoth Alexander Farmer, B. Ph. 



Atlanta, Georgia 
Foote & Davics Company 

1912 



F3^ 



Copyright. 1912 
By Rev. Wilmoth Alexander Farmer, B/Ph. 



The Library 
of Congress 

WASHINGTON 



f /.5T> 



CCLA312684 



DEDICATION 

TO 



HER WHOSE TENDER MATERNAL LOVE AND SYMPATHY. 
SHOWN BY KINDNESSES INNUMERABLE, HAS MADE IT 
POSSIBLE FOR THE AUTHOR TO HAVE THIS SEASON OF 
RETIREMENT AND REST, SO MUCH APPRECIATED AFTER 
THIS DEEP SORROW, AND SO NECESSARY FOR THE PREP- 
ARATION OF THIS MEMOIR, IS THIS VOLUME MOST LOV- 
INGLY DEDICATED— 



MY 
MOTHER 



Preface 




HE object in compiling this biography has 
been, first of all, the glory of God and the 
advancement of His kingdom, especially 
in the foreign field. We have felt dis- 
tinctly the call of God to write this book, 
and therefore, in obedience to Him, have 
undertaken it. He has corroborated the 
impression of our heart by many providential leadings and 
confirmations. Twice has much of the material used in 
the compilation of the book been preserved from damage, 
and possibly absolute destruction: first, from a storm on 
the Liucheo River, in which the author despaired of life, 
much less saving the luggage containing the diaries, letters, 
etc., of Mrs. Farmer; then again, in the awful wreck of 
the steamship Asia, which occurred on the morning of April 
23, 191 1, two days after sailing from Hongkong to Amer- 
ica, when God again in answer to prayer saved our life 
and preserved the diaries and letters from the least dam- 
age. We could mention other indications of His will and 
providence, but it would be tedious and out of place in this 
prefatory note. Suffice it to say, that what we felt and 
believed several months ago to be His will and the impres- 
sion of His Spirit, has been most signally blessed in the 
performance. 

The aim of the author has not been a literary one, but 
to give in a simple, narrative style, along with the diaries 
and letters of Mrs. Farmer, a true picture of her beautiful 
Christian character and missionary life. We have not 
written in the popular style so characteristic of much modern 
religious literature, but rather adhered to the example of 
some of the older biographical works, feeling it was more 
in accord with the subject-matter. 

We do not doubt but that some will find in Mrs. Farmer's 
writings and expressions meat too strong for their spiritual 



stage of the Christian life, but that also many will be 
blessed and refreshed, as they find some kindred relation 
between her and such Christians as Rutherford, McCheyne, 
Madame Guyon, and others of that school whose heart love 
had to vent itself in those ejaculations or expressions which, 
to people of less depth of spirituality, would seem to indi- 
cate a lack of reverence for the Lord. 

We could write a volume upon Mrs. Farmer's virtues 
as a wife and true helpmeet, whose pure and holy example 
ever led us onward and upward to God, and will ever be 
a cause of devoutest gratitude that we were blessed with 
such a companion, but this would be aside from our aim, 
which has been to give a picture of her which is preeminently 
religious and missionary. 

In the title we have styled her a heroine, and in justifica- 
tion of that term, tried to paint a picture — not with the 
gorgeous and spectacular colors which the word gener- 
ally implies, but rather have used the plainer tints and 
tones — in order to place before prospective missionary can- 
didates some conception of what missionary life is: namely, 
not a romance, but plain, hard, and, in many cases, monot- 
onous work for the kingdom of God; not the wonderful 
display of heroic martyrdom in some great crisis, thereby to 
win renown for the praise of future generations, but that 
heroic and martyr spirit which displays itself most conspic- 
uously in doing well for Christ the plain every-day duties 
of most Christian workers in fields abroad. 

We wish to thank the relatives and friends of Mrs. 
Farmer for the assistance they have lovingly given in the 
way of data, letters, etc., in the preparation of this volume. 
Thanks also should be given to Mrs. W. P. Davis, of 
Atlanta, for kindly listening to the reading of the manu- 
script and offering many helpful suggestions. 

Praying and trusting that this may be one of the ways by 
which God will answer the oft-repeated petition of Mrs. 
Farmer for "many precious souls in China," we commit 
this book to His care and blessing. 

Wilmoth A. Farmer. 

Atlanta, Ga., 

December 7, 191 1. 



CONTENTS 

Page 
CHAPTER I. Ancestry. Place of Birth. Early Childhood 

Years 9 

CHAPTER II. School Days and Conversion 19 

CHAPTER III. The Ambitious Young School Teacher and 

Artist. Consecration and Sanctification 27 

CHAPTER IV. Missionary Call. Activity in Behalf of Missions. 
Severe Illness. Preparation at Nyack Missionary 
Training School 37 

CHAPTER V. Practical Missionary Preparation. Visit to Old 

Home. Voyage to China 45 

CHAPTER VI. Story of the Christian and Missionary Alliance 

in South China 55 

CHAPTER VII. The First Two Years on the Field 69 

CHAPTER VIII. The First Two Years on the Field (contin- 
ued). First Work Among the Chinese. Marriage.... 99 

CHAPTER IX. The Opening of P'ingloh 117 

CHAPTER X. Life and Labors at P'ingloh 129 

CHAPTER XL Further Labors and Fruit at P'ingloh. Events 

of 1905 143 

CHAPTER XII. Closing Year of Work at P'ingloh 161 

CHAPTER XIII. The Opening of Liucheo to the Gospel 171 

CHAPTER XIV. Visit Home. Mandarin Industrial Training 

School. Conventions, etc 195 

CHAPTER XV. Some of Mrs. Farmer's Addresses 211 

CHAPTER XVI. Return to China. Three Months' Stay at 

P'ingloh. Return to Liucheo 247 

CHAPTER XVII. Beeson Memorial Girls' Training School. 

Events of 1910 267 

CHAPTER XVIII. Liucheo Once More. Last Days and Hours 291 

CHAPTER XIX. Testimonials of Friends and Co-Workers 307 



For thou wast one in whom the light 

Of Heaven's own love was kindled well. 

Enduring with a martyr's might, 

Through weary day and wakeful night 
Far more than words may tell: 

Gentle, and meek, and lowly, and unknown — 

Thy mercies measured by thy God alone! 

A blessed task! — and worthy one 

Who, turning from the world, as thou, 
Before life's pathway had begun 
To leave its springtime flower and sun, 

Had sealed her early vow; 
Giving to God her beauty and her youth, 
Her pure affections and her guileless truth. 

Earth may not claim thee. Nothing here 

Could be for thee a meet reward ; 
Thine is a treasure far more dear, — 
Eye hath not seen it, nor the ear 

Of living mortal heard, — 
The joys prepared, — the promised bliss above, — 
The holy presence of Eternal Love! 

Sleep on in peace. The earth has not 

A nobler name than thine shall be. 
The deeds by martial manhood wrought, 
The lofty energies of thought, 

The fire of poesy, — 
These have but frail and fading honors; — thine 
Shall Time unto Eternity consign. 

Yea, and when thrones shall crumble down, 

And human pride and grandeur fall, — 
The herald's line of long renown, — 
The mitre and the kingly crown, — 

Perishing glories all! 
The pure devotion of thy generous heart 
Shall live in Heaven, of which it was a part. 

Whit tier. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 

A Missionary Heroine 

of 

Kuangsi, South China 



CHAPTER I 

Ancestry. Place of Birth. Early Childhood Years 

Howe'er it be, it seems to me, 

'Tis only noble to be good. 
Kind hearts are more than coronets, 

And simple faith than Norman blood. 

Tennyson. 

Of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of 
the Hebrews. But what things were gain to me, those I counted 
loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for 
the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord : for whom 
I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dross, 
that I may win Christ. — St. Paul. 




HE consideration of a character possessing 
so many admirable qualities awakens a 
desire to know something of the ancestry, 
early influences of childhood, and other 
factors which contribute so largely to the 
formation of character and which shape 
the vocation and destiny of human lives. 
While, at last, all lives which leave their impress upon 
the world for good, do so through the grace of God in 
them, yet it is remarkable how that grace is displayed most 
conspicuously along the line of one's natural gifts and quali- 
ties. 

It may seem, at first thought, paradoxical to say that God 
must have something to work upon, in order to produce 



io Ada Beeson Farmer 

those lives which have been eminently holy and useful; and 
yet, if any one will closely study the traits, gifts, and quali- 
ties of any such life, there will be found, underlying the 
grace of God, an array of powers and capabilities, which 
would shine most gloriously in any other sphere of life than 
that of religion. If we study the lives of Paul, Luther, 
Wesley, Carey, Livingstone, and others, we shall find that 
God had vessels admirably adapted, by nature and previous 
training, to receive His grace and become channels of bless- 
ing beyond the ability of ordinary men. God is very 
choice in His selection of material, notwithstanding many 
think to the contrary; and we are not surprised at the kind 
of men the Holy Spirit designated, when at Antioch He 
said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where- 
unto I have called them." 

This should by no means discourage any one of lesser 
talents, for God has given to each of his children gifts and 
powers fully commensurate with their sphere of activity and 
service. 

In Martha Ada Beeson Farmer, God had indeed se- 
lected a choice vessel, and, through the power of the Holy 
Spirit, she became, in the fullest sense of the phrase, "Meet 
for the Master's use." 

Edward Beeson and his wife, Rachel Pennington, came 
to America from Lancaster, England, with the followers 
of William Penn. Their ancestors had come from France 
to Wales, and from Wales to England. Later, Edward 
and wife removed to Berkeley County, Virginia, then a pio- 
neer settlement of Quakers. They were blessed with four 
sons; the second, Richard, became a Quaker preacher, while 
the third, Isaac Beeson moved to North Carolina. It is 
from this latter branch of the family that Captain W. B. 
Beeson, the father of Mrs. Farmer, sprung. 

The ancestry of the Beeson family was of average ability, 
intellectually and socially. They were large of stature, 
strong and robust, and especially noted for their large 
families. Numbers of them were farmers, mechanics, and 
business and professional men. One or two were mem- 



Ada Beeson Farmer ii 

bers of the State Legislature and also filled State and county 
offices. One went to Congress, and one was district judge. 

Alfred Beeson, the grandfather of Mrs. Farmer, was a 
useful and representative man of his day. When a young 
man he volunteered for service in the War of 1812, being 
a participant in many battles of that period, notably, that 
of New Orleans, on the 8th of June, 18 15. After the war 
he settled in Alabama, where he reared a large family. Be- 
sides filling the office of magistrate, he was a leader and 
teacher in his community. He died in 1842, when W. B, 
Beeson was about thirteen years of age, and consequently 
the latter was denied the advantages of a good education. 
He lived with two of his uncles until 1849, when he went 
to work on another farm at very low wages, in order to 
get money enough to support and educate himself. 

Some of the indomitable courage and success of Mrs. 
Farmer's life may be traced back to her father, who, after 
he was twenty years of age, applied himself so diligently 
that soon after leaving Blountsville Academy, he was en- 
gaged in teaching, which he continued to do up to the time 
of his marriage in 1857 to Miss Mary Sibert, the daughter 
of a wealthy farmer, one of the first settlers of the State. 
After his marriage he again engaged in farming as a means 
of livelihood. 

His father's intense patriotism was transmitted to the 
son. When the Civil War came on, he volunteered for serv- 
ice, and entered the Confederate army as a first lieutenant, 
but was soon promoted to the captaincy of Company G, of 
the Forty-ninth Regiment of Alabama Volunteers. He 
served from December, 1861, till the surrender. He fought 
at Shiloh, and at Port Hudson, where he was wounded in 
the left arm, captured and sent to Johnson's Island. After 
his exchange, he took part in all the fighting around At- 
lanta, was at the battles of Kinston and Bentonville, North 
Carolina, and finally surrendered at Greensboro, North 
Carolina. 

He loved the quiet retired country life which his farm 
afforded him, so after the war, returned to his favorite 
occupation. He never cared for the prominent and exciting 
life of politics, but his integrity and influence were such 



12 Ada Beeson Farmer 

that, while at home, he was nominated as candidate for the 
Legislature from Etowah County, Alabama. He served 
two terms, effecting much important work along industrial, 
educational, and temperance lines. 

Mrs. Farmer's mother, although a quiet, pious, and un- 
obtrusive woman, yet was a great factor in the Beeson 
family. She did much in shaping the practical side of Mrs. 
Farmer's life. She was descended from a German family, 
whose ancestry had served in the Revolutionary War. She 
had all of that admirable thrift, management, and economy 
peculiar to the German people. It was often said, "Cap- 
tain Beeson made the money, but Mrs. Beeson saved it." 
In many instances it was true, for the Captain was too good- 
hearted to refuse a loan when asked, and many of the county 
in which he lived had cause to call him blessed on account 
of his unselfish generosity. 

Mrs. Beeson not only saved money, but she herself, with 
her milk, butter, chickens, and eggs, netted a neat little sum 
each year, a part of which always found its way to the 
mission field. It did seem almost amusing, that those hens 
whose eggs were to be turned into missionary money thrived 
better and laid more eggs than the others. 

It is needless to say that Mrs. Beeson was an excellent 
housekeeper and homemaker in every sense of the words, 
and she taught her daughters to cook, sew, and do general 
housework, thereby fitting them to meet the duties and 
responsibilities of life. That she was religious, as well as 
practical, is shown by the following lines written by her 
pastor at the time of her death. 

When quite a girl she made a profession of religion and joined the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, to which profession she was ever 
true, and to whose vows she was faithful unto the end. No more 
devoted mother nor truer wife, nor more faithful Christian has been 
among us — her faithfulness as a wife a worthy example, her supreme 
regard for the church and her Lord an inspiration to all. The world 
has been enriched by her life, the church has been made stronger by 
her prayers, faith and labors, and the family inherits a name and a 
memory richer by far than all the crowns of earth. Her life was a 
living testimony that Christ has come into the world. 

In passing, we may say, that no lady candidate should 
consider herself equipped for foreign mission service unless 




i. Mrs. Farmer at the time she was teaching school. 
-'• Capt. W. B. Beeson and wife, parents of Mrs, Farmer. 
3. Mrs. Farmer when a school girl \t Arcadia, La. 

4- Mrs. Farmer after her graduation. 

5- Photo of Mrs. Farmer taken i\ [907 while home on 

from China. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 13 

she can cook, sew, wash, and do the commonplace things 
of life. And it may be added, that it is not at all amiss 
if the gentlemen know something of such work. 

Eleven children came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Beeson. Having in his earlier years sorely felt the need of 
educational advantages, Mr. Beeson resolved that he could 
do nothing nobler and better for his children, than to make 
it possible for each to have a good scholastic training. With 
Mrs. Beeson's help and management, how grandly this ideal 
has been realized is seen by the number of college and uni- 
versity degrees in the family, and the high educational posi- 
tions some of the sons hold. 

Martha Ada was the seventh of eleven children. She 
was born December 30, 1871, at the old homestead in north 
Alabama, Etowah County. The district is known as the 
"Big Wills Valley," an Indian name handed down from 
early days. It is the garden spot of the State, possessing 
the best farming land; and its mountains, covered with rich 
forests, present a beautiful picture not soon forgotten. 
Here and there, are country homes surrounded by fields 
of cotton, corn, and other products indigenous to southern 
soil and climate. 

Who has words sufficient to describe that peace and 
tranquillity, and withal, that exhilaration which comes to 
one on a bright June morning as he is awakened by the 
clarion call of the barnyard cock, or the gentler notes of 
the bob-white as he calls to his mate? One can not sleep, but 
rises from his bed to drink in the fresh morning air laden 
with the subtle and indescribable fragrance from many trees 
and flowers, which reflect the first rays of the rising sun. 
He is made to rejoice with all nature, and to thank God 
that His work is indeed good, and all the earth full of His 
glory. One realizes the force of that trite but sententious 
line, "God made the country, and man made the town." 

Reared amid such surroundings, we are not surprised to 
find that Mrs. Farmer was an ardent lover of nature. The 
mountains and trees, the birds and flowers, the sunshine 
and blue sky, the summer showers and running brooks, 
all met with a glad response in her heart, which was so in 



14 Ada Beeson Farmer 

consonance with the glory and magnificence of the mes- 
sage they are always telling. How many times, as we 
have journeyed up and down the beautiful Fu River in 
Kuangsi, have we had her call our attention to some color- 
ing in the mountains and foliage, or to some picturesque 
formation of the rocks; or perhaps the beauty of some little 
bridge, thrown across a mountain stream emptying into the 
river, would elicit from her unstinted admiration. We have 
seen her sit upon the bow of the boat late in the afternoon, 
as we passed through those lucid depths of the river which 
reflected the mountains bathed in the effulgent glory of the 
setting sun, and there drink in those soft shadows and 
lights until her soul was lost in praise and prayer. 

Others might "sit around and pick blackberries," but to 
her everywhere was holy ground, and 

Earth crammed with Heaven, 
And every common bush aflame with God. 

And she, having the unshodden feet of a holy life, therefore 
drew near to behold and to worship. 

Not only did God place her amid the beauties of nature, 
but He added blessing upon blessing, in the gift of godly 
parents and a Christian home. Captain Beeson was a stew- 
ard in the Methodist Church, and his home was regulated, 
in its social and religious life, according to early Methodist 
ideals. He and his wife were both devout Christians, and 
had enough of the love and joy of Christ to share it with 
their children and all who came under the family roof. The 
preacher, the neighbors, and the stranger, ever found a 
hearty welcome at the Beeson home and table. A family 
altar was there, from which supplication, praise, and thanks- 
giving of devout hearts rose daily, as sweet incense unto 
God. Sunday services, Sabbath school, all-day meetings, 
and the periodic revival, always found the family there, 
actively engaged in some part of the services. It is no 
wonder that each of the children became converted and 
united with the church, and that the family is to-day remark- 
able for its religious activity and influence upon the world. 

O that God would send to us a revival of home religion, 
so deep and lasting that altars would be repaired and 



Ada Beeson Farmer 15 

parents make home such a place that the children could 
never shake off the godly influence of father, mother, and 
the family altar! 

The deep springs of Mrs. Farmer's religious nature no 
doubt found their source in the pious home of her childhood 
days. She and her brothers and sisters often played 
"preaching," in which all of the Methodist regulations 
were faithfully carried out, such as exhortation, calling up 
mourners, handshaking, etc., all ending in a general recep- 
tion into the church by baptism. She and her brother Luther 
always insisted upon being immersed, as the barn, with its 
sweet-smelling hay and fodder, offered inducements as a 
baptismal pool, far surpassing "sprinkling" or "pouring!" 

She was a very delicate child, and, not being as plump and 
robust as her other sisters, she was oftentimes unmercifully 
teased by the other children. As her little figure was so 
thin and bony, they delighted to tease her by calling her 
"Aunt Polly Coates," after an old lady in the community, 
Aunt Polly, witch-like and fearsome! Yet her delicious 
cookies, so bountifully dispensed to the children that they 
said they became hungry straightway they came in sight of 
her roof, would allure the most timid child into the presence 
of Aunt Polly. 

Notwithstanding the fact that Mrs. Farmer was a deli- 
cate child, she loved outdoor life, and there was not a 
happier child upon the farm than she. In her intrepidity 
she was surpassed by none, and not even the boys could 
outdo her. They often called her "Little Tom-boy," for 
she was ready for anything. As horseback riding proved 
too tame for them, she was ready in a moment's time to 
join her brothers in a ride on the goats, glad to take all 
the butting and pitching off that the adventure involved. 
Her courage and fearlessness increased as the years went 
by until later on she dared to live and work amid the dan- 
gers and perils of hard pioneer work in inland China. No 
blushing cherry hid itself upon the topmost bough but her 
nimble hands soon had it in their possession. The tops of 
the apple and peach trees afforded her an excellent feasting- 
place on the bright summer days when the fruit was ripe. 



16 Ada Beeson Farmer 

The guineas and turkeys might hide their nests never so 
secretly but her sharp eyes and perseverance would soon 
be rewarded by a handful of eggs. Many a happy ride 
did she have seated upon the downy cotton as it was hauled 
from the fields to the cotton-house or gin. 

Her home was a typical Southern country home, with all 
that the phrase implies. So passed the happy, innocent days 
of childhood. 

How dear to this heart are the scenes of my childhood, 
When fond recollection presents them to view! 

The orchard, the meadow, the deep-tangled wildwood, 
And every loved spot which my infancy knew. 



AT SCHOOL-CLOSE 

The end has come, as come it must 

To all things; in these sweet June days 

The teacher and the scholar trust 

Their parting feet to separate ways. 

They part; but in the years to be 
Shall pleasant memories cling to each, 

As shells bear inland from the sea 
The murmur of the rhythmic beach. 

One knew the joy the sculptor knows 
When, plastic to his lightest touch, 

His clay-wrought model slowly grows 
To that fine grace desired so much. 

So daily grew before her eyes 

The living shapes whereon she wrought; 
Strong, tender, innocently wise, 

The child's heart with the woman's taught. 

And one shall never quite forget 

The voice that called from dream and play, 
The firm but kindly hand that set 

Her feet in learning's way, — 

The joy of Undine, soul-possessed, 

The wakening sense, the strange delight 

That swelled the fabled statue's breast 
And filled its clouded eyes with sight! 

O, Youth and Beauty, loved of all! 

Ye pass from girlhood's gate of dreams; 
In broader ways your footsteps fall, 

Ye test the truth of all that seems. 

Her little realm the teacher leaves, 
She breaks her wand of power apart, 

While, for your love and trust, she gives 
The warm thanks of a grateful heart. 

Hers is the summer sober moon 

Contrasted with your morn of spring; 

The waning with the waxing moon, 
The folded with the outspread wing. 



18 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Across the distance of the years 

She sends her God-speed back to you; 

She has no thought of doubts or fears; 
Be but yourselves, be pure, be true. 

And prompt in duty; heed the deep 

Low voice of conscience; through the ill 

And discord round about you, keep 
Your faith in human nature still. 

Be gentle; unto grief and needs, 

Be pitiful as woman should, 
And, spite of all the lies of creeds, 

Hold fast the truth that God is good. 

Give and receive; go forth and bless 
The world that needs the hand and heart 

Of Martha's helpful carefulness 
No less than Mary's better part. 

So shall the stream of time flow by 

And leave each year a richer good, 
And matron loveliness outvie 

The nameless charm of maidenhood. 

And, when the world shall link your names 
With gracious lives and manners fine, 

The teacher shall assert her claims, 

And proudly whisper, "These were mine!" 

Whittier. 



CHAPTER II 

School-days and Conversion. 

Night is the time for toil; 

To plough the classic field, 
Intent to find the buried spoil 

Its wealthy furrows yield; 
Till all is ours that sages taught , 
That poets sang, or heroes wrought. 

Montgomery. 

Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and ap- 
plication ? — Confucius. 

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but accord- 
ing to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and 
the renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly 
through Jesus Christ our Saviour. — St. Paul. 

RS. Farmer, while a mere child, began her 
school-days at the country school of the 
district in which she lived. Those were 
the schools and days of the "Blue-Back 
Spelling Book," and in the words of a pop- 
ular song, 

Reading, and 'riting and 'rithmetic 
Taught to the tune of a hick'ry stick. 

As far as we can ascertain, the stick never came into 
play in order to cause her to apply herself to her studies. 
Although the little head and body were small, yet they 
contained in embryo an exceptionally bright mind, and an 
ambitious little soul, destined to succeed in life, no matter 
what the odds might be. She led her classes, enjoyed the 
recreation periods with the other children, and was one of 
the pets of the old country schoolmaster. 

Having lived upon the farm about thirteen years, she 
was invited by her uncle William and aunt Mary Sibert to 




20 Ada Beeson Farmer 

come and board with them and attend school in Gadsden, 
Alabama. Mr. Sibert's home was one of wealth and cul- 
ture; his eldest son, Luther, was a graduate of West Point, 
and at present is one of the three commissioners, and one 
of the chief engineers, of the Panama Canal. Mrs. Farmer 
was a great favorite of the Siberts, and they, having a 
daughter of the same age, were delighted to have her in their 
home as the companion of their daughter. The two girls 
were great friends, attended the same school, and in the 
home shared the same duties and pleasures. Mrs. Farmer 
always easily won the hearts of those about her, for her 
desire of being helpful and useful was so noticeable that 
every one was glad to have her near. Even at this age she 
showed that faithfulness and fidelity to duty which was so 
characteristic of her in later life. Her mother used to 
proudly say, "What I commit to Ada to do, will be done, 
and well done." At the close of the school term, her aunt 
begged that she be sent back the following year, and com- 
plimentarily added, "I can always depend upon Ada." 

She made good records during the year at school in 
Gadsden. She was especially gifted with a reasoning and 
philosophical mind; hard mathematical problems were al- 
ways just what she delighted in, and in abstruse thought 
she was ever at home. 

While attending school at Gadsden, the city was blessed 
with one of those glorious visitations of grace, which the 
Methodists would call, "An old-time revival of religion." 
The services were held at the Methodist church where Mrs. 
Farmer attended, and the Spirit of God moved most gra- 
ciously upon the hearts of the people. It was one of those 
times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and 
His Spirit seemed to hover over the town and vicinity with 
a gracious and attractive influence that moved powerfully 
upon all who came within its sway. People came for miles 
to attend the meetings, and deep heart repentance and 
bright conversions were seen day after day. It was a re- 
vival in which not only people in the ordinary walks of life 
were saved and blessed, but it reached the skeptical, hard- 
hearted, and indifferent. Lawyers, merchants, and, in fact, 



Ada Beeson Farmer 21 

all classes, knelt at the altar in true penitence and acknowl- 
edged allegiance to Jesus Christ as King of Kings and 
Lord of Lords. 

One with a nature like Mrs. Farmer's, naturally so keenly 
sensitive to religious influence and feeling, could not fail 
to be affected by such a movement. It is from this time 
she dates her conversion. 

Of course, having been reared in a home where Christ 
and religion had always been given such a prominent place, 
she had been accustomed all her previous life to pray and 
read the Holy Scriptures, but, as we have often heard her 
say, she had never, up to this time, had the conscious 
knowledge and assurance of sins forgiven, and a heart 
at peace with God. She had often gone to the altar dur- 
ing revival services, and there wept and mourned over 
her sins as most any penitent child will do; but not till 
now did she have the witness of the Spirit that she was 
indeed a child of God. She had been troubled and mysti- 
fied by the repeated injunction, "Blessed are they that 
mourn, for they shall be comforted," and had done her 
share of mourning, without realizing the blessedness which 
should follow. But now at this time, while kneeling at the 
altar, some one by a word or two pointed out the way 
clearly and showed her that she would never be, saved 
or reach that blessedness of conscious salvation by mourn- 
ing, but by faith, and faith alone in a crucified Savior. 
She saw it and gladly flung her poor tired heart at His 
feet, trusting in that meritorious blood, and found that 
peace and joy like which there is nothing this side of 
heaven. 

Her conversion was not attended by any unusual demon- 
stration of spiritual emotion, for she had been used to spir- 
itual things from earliest years. She knew from this time 
on, that she had been born again, and that Jesus Christ was 
indeed her Savior. 

One might think that a person of such a deeply religious 
nature would have extraordinary experiences to relate, but 
her religious life, from its inception to its close, was marked 
by a constant growth and glory, increasing in depth as the 



22 Ada Beeson Farmer 

years went by. It was as some beautiful stream, unbroken 
by rapids and cataracts, as it nears the sea becomes broader 
and deeper until it is lost in the ocean beyond. While here 
and there we find her soul passing through seasons of extra- 
ordinary blessing, yet her life, as a whole, was more 
like that of the figure given in the Scriptures, "The 
path of the just is as a shining light which shineth more and 
more unto the perfect day." I have often heard her say, 
that when present in a meeting where there was much spir- 
itual joy, venting itself even in shouts of praises, she felt 
calmer and leaned more fully upon God. She was not at 
all opposed to joyful, spiritual demonstration, and fully be- 
lieved that God so worked through His Spirit in some souls. 
At such times, she would generally sit or kneel quietly by, 
and, with closed eyes and face diffused with the light of 
heaven, engage in silent prayer or adoration. If called 
upon to pray, she would do so with great earnestness and 
in the Spirit, so that every one around would feel the gra- 
cious influence of the Lord. 

As the older brothers and sisters were away at college, 
we find for the next few years Mrs. Farmer was at the old 
home place helping her mother in household duties, and 
pursuing her studies the best she could at the country 
schools. In the year of 1886, her brother J. W. Beeson, 
established a school at Arcadia, Louisiana, known as "The 
Arcadia Female College." Knowing that she would have 
superior advantages at her brother's school, she went to 
Arcadia and there began her regular college course. 

In order that we may have a view of her life at this time, 
I can not do better than insert a short paper, written by 
a dear friend and classmate, Miss Florence Sutton, of Ar- 
cadia, in which she refers to the period now under consid- 
eration. This paper was read at a memorial service held 
at Arcadia after Mrs. Farmer's death, and, chronologi- 
cally, should come later in this book, but as there are so 
many references to her school life of those days, we feel it 
is not unsuitable to place it before our readers at this point. 

Airs. Farmer, better known to our people as Miss Ada Beeson, was 
well known to the majority of the people of Arcadia, for it was here 
that she spent a part of her school-day life, and endeared herself to 



Ada Beeson Farmer 23 

all who knew her, and we felt that she belonged to us. She was 
my schoolmate, classmate and friend, and we were intimately asso- 
ciated together as such for a number of years. 

She made a record for herself as a pupil, and I was glad to claim 
her as my associate in our class work. She was painstaking, conscien- 
tious, hard-working and honest; always met difficulties with a de- 
termination to succeed and overcome obstacles when it seemed hard 
to surmount. She was talented, bright and studious, and that, to- 
gether with her untiring energy, won success for her in an educational 
line, and she was well prepared in every way for the great life-work 
she chose. 

As a friend, I loved her. She was one on whom you could rely. 
She was blessed with a happy, cheerful nature, was gentle, patient 
and unselfish, and was one of those loving beings who spread sun- 
shine wherever they go. No murmur or complaint ever escaped from 
her lips; she met things as they came and glorified in being a help to 
others. It was an inspiration to be with her. I count it as one of 
the pleasures and blessings of my life to have had her as a classmate, 
companion and friend. 

One of her most endearing traits was her self-sacrificing spirit, and 
her place of unselfishness and her love will be hard to fill. She was a 
true, consecrated Christian, and duty was her watchword. When I 
heard that she had gone to China as a missionary, I was not sur- 
prised, for I knew she felt it to be a divine calling, and that it was 
a joy for her to obey. 

We had the pleasure of a visit from her two years ago, and while 
she took pleasure in discussing other things, her greatest happiness 
was in telling of her work in the foreign field and trying to urge 
others to see the necessity of more workers in the great mission world. 
One thing that impressed me very much and recalled to mind very 
forcibly the noble traits of her Christian character, was this expres- 
sion: "I do not want people to say that we are self-sacrificing to 
give up our home and go to far-away China; it is not a sacrifice, but 
a duty, and I am never happier than when there at work." I think 
that expression is a revelation of her true self. She fell at her post 
of duty and heard the welcome: "Well done, thou good and faith- 
ful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." 

Such a life should serve as an inspiration and example and fill 
us with a desire to emulate her worthy deeds. As a friend, I loved 
her; as a student and classmate, I esteemed her; and as a Christian, 
I revere her memory. 

Before completing her course at Arcadia, Doctor Beeson 
was called to take the presidency of Marengo Female In- 
stitute, at Demopolis, Alabama. Wishing to continue with 
her brother, she accompanied him to the latter place and 
there completed her studies, receiving her literary diploma 



24 Ada Beeson Farmer 

in 1892. The next year she returned to Demopolis, where 
she spent part of her time teaching art in the school, and 
also doing post-graduate work. At the close of the school 
year, she received her M.A. degree. 

During the period just related, on account of the death 
of Doctor Beeson's wife, Mrs. Farmer had the care and 
supervision of Marvin Beeson, his eldest and only son. 
Although herself young in years, she was to him an 
ideal mother, and the mutual love which then began be- 
tween aunt and nephew, and ever continued, was very beau- 
tiful to see. Few have taken the deep interest in a little 
protege that she did, and she lived to see many of the 
noble lessons she taught him faithfully carried out in his 
manly Christian life. How much he loved and appreciated 
her is beautifully shown in a letter recently received from 
Germany, where he is now completing his course for the 
degree of doctor of philosophy. 

My Dear Uncle Wilmoth: 

I received your nice letter a few days ago, and appreciate it very 
much. This morning I received the sad news of Aunt Ada's death. 
I had been praying that God would see fit to spare her yet for many 
years of service, but His ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts 
our thoughts, and doubtless He has a purpose in it all that we do 
not understand. 

I have always felt a particular love for Aunt Ada, because I was 
with her a great deal when I used to visit grandmother's and as a 
small child, and she took such an interest in me. She sang me beauti- 
ful songs, and taught me to love the Bible stones, and to serve the 
Lord she read to me about. She taught me to love what was noble, and 
told me of the characters of the Bible. I shall always owe much of 
the influences of my early life to her careful teaching. 

It must have been blessed to know, when the Lord called, and to 
go with the sweet consciousness, that one has spent his life wholly in 
His service; that he has given up all personal ambitions and plans 
for this life, and really sacrificed some for lost souls. I am sure it 
is a sacrifice to do what she has done, and I can think of no greater 
happiness than to realize that one has followed His call all the way, 
and has lived wholly for others. 

It is my great desire to give my life wholly to His service where 
He wants me. At present I feel He is leading me to the college 
work, but I am wholly willing to give my life in the foreign field, 
if He leads that way. I only want, that, in whatever place He puts 
me, the indication will be plain. I have thought often of missionary 



Ada Beeson Farmer 25 

work, and at times have been very anxious to be a missionary, and 
if He indicates that way yet, I will gladly go to some foreign field. 

Mrs. Farmer's life was a fine example of one who did 
all heartily, as unto the Lord, and He made all she did 
fruitful and lasting. She lived for Him, and His smile of 
approval rested upon her and her work. 



CONSECRATION 

Take my life, and let it be 
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee. 

Take my hands, and let them move 
At the impulse of Thy love. 

Take my feet, and let them be 
Swift and beautiful for Thee. 

Take my voice, and let me sing 
Always only for my King. 

Take my lips and let them be 
Filled with messages for Thee. 

Take my silver and my gold, 
Not a mite would I withhold. 

Take my moments and my days, 
Let them flow in endless praise. 

Take my intellect, and use 

Ev'ry power as Thou shalt choose. 

Take my will and make it Thine ; 
It shall be no longer mine. 

Take my heart — it is Thine own, — 
It shall be Thy royal throne. 

Take my love, — my Lord, I pour 
At Thy feet its treasure-store! 

Take myself, and I will be 
Ever, only, all for Thee! 

Frances Ridley Havergal. 



CHAPTER III 

The Ambitious Young School Teacher and Artist. 
Consecration and Sanctification 

When I survey the wondrous cross 
On which the Prince of glory died, 

My richest gain I count but loss 

And pour contempt on all my pride. 

Were all the realm of nature mine. 
That were a present far too small; 

Love so amazing, so divine, 

Demands my soul, my life, my all. 

Watts. 

That they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, 
but unto Him which died for them, and rose again. 

The very God of peace sanctify you wholly ; and I pray God your 
whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the com- 
ing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who 
also will do it. — St. Paul. 

RS. FARMER was too self-reliant and in- 
dependent to remain idly at home after 
she had finished school. She felt the need, 
and saw the advantage, of using and de- 
veloping further what she had already ac- 
quired, so we soon find her busily engaged 
in teaching. 
In the previous chapter, we have seen her assisting her 
brother at Demopolis, and at the same time doing her post- 
graduate work; but now she accepts a position to teach in 
the far West — teaching one year at Paradise, Texas, and 
one year at Chico, in the state. 

How we have enjoyed hearing her tell of the ludicrous 
experiences which she passed through, as a young school- 
teacher in those days! 

In some of the districts in which she taught, there were 
not the nice and well-equipped schoolhouses to which she 
had been accustomed, and the pupils were not always of 
that attractive class which is easiest to teach. It required 






28 Ada Beeson Farmer 

real determination and perseverance to accomplish what 
she desired. Her own personal comforts had in many in- 
stances to be laid aside, and she had to adapt herself to her 
environment the best she could. Narrow-minded patrons 
gave her trouble, and school boards were exacting and at 
times required of her unnecessary work; but she was so 
happy and cheerful that she was a success and won many 
friends wherever she taught. 

She was eminently gifted as a teacher, and her pupils 
loved her devotedly. She was tactful, patient, and enjoyed 
her work, and had the happy faculty of imparting to them 
what they were trying to learn. She always won the hearts 
of the little children. Her copious fund of Bible stories, 
fairy tales, motion songs, and kindergarten plays, caused 
the little ones to flock about her. It was her great delight 
to get such a crowd around her, and, with smiling face and 
shining eyes, amuse and instruct them for a long time, and 
she generally succeeded in making them do anything she 
wished. 

We have heard her laugh heartily about the little fellow* 
who on being told that he must wash and clean up, not 
only his face and hands, but take an all-over bath, replied 
in his earnest, droll way, "But I don't get dirty under my 
clothes." 

Upon another occasion, when teaching a class of children 
natural history, she requested that each pupil try and get 
some specimens, that they might have the pleasure and 
profit of studying them together. She was highly amused 
at the wonderful collection of bugs, lizards, snakes, etc., 
which the children managed to obtain. But imagine her 
feelings when one day one of the boys came in, before she 
was aware of it, with a skunk! This marked the climax 
of all their desire for original research. The class had to 
be dismissed, and so pungent was the odor that other teach- 
ers in near-by lecture-rooms sallied forth to investigate 
the cause of the mysterious smell. They soon found Mrs. 
Farmer in her classroom, convulsed with laughter, and do- 
ing all she could to ventilate and clear the premises of the 
"natural history specimen." It was hard to determine who 



Ada Beeson Farmer 29 

enjoyed the joke most, the faculty who teased her unmerci- 
fully, or the children who by the occurrence gained a long 
recreation period. 

How wonderfully, and often unknown to the person him- 
self at the time, does God train men and women by the 
every-day experiences of life, in order to fit them for some 
sphere of usefulness not yet revealed. St. Paul was a nota- 
ble example of this. But he is not alone; for in studying 
the lives of other great missionaries and leaders of the 
world, it is remarkable to find that when the decisive hour 
has come and they are thrust forth with some great re- 
sponsibility, they discover that they possess the accumulated 
resources of the past years' experience with which to go 
forth well equipped for the task before them. It behooves 
us to do our best, no matter where we are placed, for God 
has put us there for some training that we need, and which 
will be of untold value to us in the future. 

So it was with Mrs. Farmer. The self-denial, sacrifice, 
adaptation to untoward circumstances, business dealings 
with men and women, training of pupils, overcoming diffi- 
culties, grappling with the problems of school work, — all 
contributed toward shaping and preparing her for a harder 
and more strenuous life later on in China. 

How little do those know, who think that the mission 
field is a place where men and women of mediocre talents 
and ability may be used! The solution of the problem of 
foreign missions demands the brightest and best-trained 
minds — united to a holy life — that the Christian church 
can send out. May the Lord save the cause of foreign mis- 
sions from the deteriorating effect of enlisting in its service 
those who think that spiritual qualifications are all that a 
candidate needs in order to make a good missionary! Spir- 
itual qualification is of prime importance, but it is very no- 
ticeable how the Spirit of God moves along the lines of 
good, common, practical, and every-day sense; and not only 
is the best mental training and a holy life needed, but all 
candidates for mission service should be practical men and 
women. Men and women who go to the field should not 
be babies, but soldiers. 



30 Ada Bee son Farmer 

We trust our readers will pardon these occasional di- 
gressions, but when we come to consider how invaluable 
was Mrs. Farmer's practicality, which, united with her ex- 
cellent spirituality and mentality, made her the missionary 
she was, we can not forbear emphasizing the importance of 
laying hold of those helps to a successful missionary career 
which lie so close to all of us and may be had without 
money or price. 

While she was still teaching in the West, her brother 
was again called to take charge of another school, located 
at Meridian, Mississippi, and known as "The East Miss- 
issippi Female College," a school under the patronage and 
jurisdiction of the Southern Methodist Church. Doctor 
Beeson, appreciating Mrs. Farmer's efficient help, invited 
her to return to the South and aid him in his work. This 
she did, spending two years at the college in Meridian. 

During this period, Mrs. Farmer passed through one of 
those epochal experiences through which all eminently use- 
ful men and women go sooner or later. By whatever name 
people of different theological views may be disposed to 
term it, the experience is one. It is that crisis of the soul 
in which all the plans of life and one's very self are given 
to God and His ownership recognized, possibly as at no 
previous time in life, resulting in God cleansing the heart 
and giving Himself through His Holy Spirit in a fulness 
of power, joy, and victory in the Christian life before un- 
known. 

Having been reared in a Methodist home, where the 
writings of the Wesleys, Fletcher, Clarke, Watson, and 
others of their school, were freely read and believed, and 
also taught in the church of which she was a member, it is 
not a matter of surprise that she termed the great blessing 
which came to her at this time, "Entire Sanctification." Other 
members of her family had enjoyed this grace before now, 
so when, on her return from the West, this blessed life of 
full surrender, with its accompaniment of fulness of joy, 
heart purity, and glorious indwelling of Christ in the heart 
and life was presented, it was not a new doctrine to her. 
But, like many others, she had kept waiting and at the 



Ada Beeson Farmer 31 

same time planning out her life's work, in which personal 
ambition on different lines retarded her progress in spiritual 
things. She wanted God to be willing to her plans, and to 
come over on her side of the questions involved. Alas, that 
poor human nature should ever be so foolish and deceived 
as to think for one moment that God's will is detrimental 
to the happiest and most successful life possible ! In His 
will alone is found the truest happiness and success of 
life. 

Mrs. Farmer had lived a very consistent Christian life 
since her conversion, and had ever been a true witness for 
Christ wherever she chanced to be, whether in the study- 
hall, drawing-room, at home, or abroad. Still, little fail- 
ures, uprisings of temper, and a tormenting consciousness 
that she was not letting Christ control and dictate in every 
department of her life, caused her to become very dissatis- 
fied with herself, and at the same time created an intense 
longing to be fully cleansed from self and sin and wholly 
the Lord's. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst 
after righteousness, for they shall be filled." 

Mr. L. P. Brown, a dear brother in the Lord, and to 
whom she looked as to a spiritual father in many things 
pertaining to the religious life, was mainly instrumental, 
in God's hands, in leading her into the experience of entire 
sanctification. He says in reference to the matter: 

The time and circumstances are fresh in my memory. A woman, 
strong in brain force, clear in her regenerated experience, prayer- 
ful in daily life, honest in confession of heart longings which she 
could not satisfactorily settle, came a number of blocks from the 
college, where she taught for her brother, Professor J. W. Beeson, 
to my home. As soon as she gave intimation of her heart's hunger, 
even before the conversation was fairly begun, I suggested prayer 
for the Spirit's guidance. After short prayers by each of us, I then 
stressed the Holy Spirit's work as teacher and simply asked her to 
lay aside all preconceived opinions, forget the experiences of others, 
and be pliable in His hands. 

With a wonderful concentration of her strong will power, there 
came a surrender, which she thought had been given long before 
in her Christian life, and as her silent, and at times expressed, peti- 
tions went up to God, as we knelt in prayer, I could see, feel, and 
know the progress of the Spirit's work in her heart. Not in an 
outburst, but with calmness and emphasis, she said, "I see it, I see it." 



32 Ada Beeson Farmer 

The lines in her face began to fast slip away, and the eyes 
sparkled as the gentle calm seemed to settle upon it. There was 
an emptying and a filling. The Spirit's witness to her sanctifica- 
tion was clear and definite. The will had been, under the leading 
of the Holy Ghost, fully surrendered. Her testimony, as the months 
and years went by, was to the distinct work of grace in that quiet 
hour. 

Wonderful has been the fruit of her life! And at last, away off 
in China, God, in the midst of her labors, called her home. He 
knows best. May we be as ready when our summons come. 

This newly found rest and joy was not a thing to be shut 
up in her own bosom, and for her own enjoyment, so from 
this time she became a most earnest witness of God's power 
to save to the uttermost. Nor was it only a witness of the 
lips, for her life showed likewise a marked change. She 
was a living example of the great grace which God had 
bestowed upon her. Not only in her public, but in her pri- 
vate and home life, was there a victory, peace, and power 
she had not known before. One of the greatest benedic- 
tions to our own soul is the remembrance of the holy life 
she lived in her home. What she appeared to be on the 
outside, she really was. She was so transparent and frank 
in character, — so pure, so good. Her self-control, and the 
control of God's Spirit over her, was extraordinary. Sanc- 
tification was not a mere dogma with her, but Christ Jesus 
her Sanctifier, was a bright, living reality with her, and 
with Him she closely walked day by day. The power of 
the Spirit in her life was apparent to all who came in con- 
tact with her. The brightness of her face was very notice- 
able and carried sunshine and blessing wherever she went. 

Thank God, His grace is just as abundant as ever, and we 
need not go back to the olden times, be they never so good, 
to find saints; for there are many at our sides who walk 
in beautiful garments made white and spotless in the blood 
of the Lamb. God, give us the anointed eye to see them! 

As we have already remarked, Mrs. Farmer was an 
ardent lover of nature, and her aesthetic taste was above 
the average. To-day, as I write, there lies upon the desk 
before me a somewhat faded parchment with a blue rib- 
bon attached to it. One phrase from the scroll reads as 



Ada Beeson Farmer 33 

follows: "Be it known that Martha A. Beeson has com- 
pleted the course of study in Art prescribed by this Institu- 
tion, and that her ^Esthetic Culture, Industry, and Moral 
Worth, entitle her to this certificate, which is awarded to 
her by the Trustees and Faculty." It is her art diploma. 
Oh, if it could speak forth to-day, what could it not tell? 

It could tell us of the fondly cherished hopes that its 
owner had of study at home and abroad, until she became 
so proficient as to be styled an artist. It could tell of how, 
even when she was in school at Arcadia, she had begun the 
study of art, showing talent and skill far above the others, 
and how she had continued to study at Demopolis, painting 
and sketching, from nature and still life, pictures which 
were worthy of more than a passing notice; and also of 
how, during the summer following her graduation, she 
had attended the summer school at Mont Eagle, Tennessee, 
and made a specialty of sketching from nature; this faded 
parchment might, again, tell of her purpose to accompany 
her teacher to Europe for further proficiency in her much 
beloved work. 

But, best of all, it could tell in more glowing words how 
this worthy and laudable ambition of its owner was finally 
laid down at the feet of the Great Artist, who saw in her a 
talent by which, if blessed and empowered by Him, men, 
women and little children might be made to stand, with faces 
bright and happy, looking upon us not from a canvas but 
from the background of real life. What a glorious ex- 
change! Instead of painting images and scenes of happi- 
ness, to go in the power of Jesus Christ and actually bring 
about that happiness! 

It cost her something to lay this aside for His sake. The 
price of true consecration is always dear. Was she repaid? 
Yes, ten thousandfold! Reader, did you ever make a sac- 
rifice of any kind for Christ and His Kingdom? 

All for Jesus! All for Jesus! 
All my being's ransomed powers; 
All my thoughts, and words, and doings, 
All my days, and all my hours. 
All for Jesus! All for Jesus! 
All my days and all my hours. 



THE CALL OF THE HEATHEN WORLD 

Hark! The awful cries I hear, 
Cries of sorrow, pain, and fear; 
Sounding far across the sea, 
Crying, crying unto me. 
In lone watches of the night, 
In my work, in my prayer, 
In the dawn of morning's light, 
I can hear them everywhere. 

Cries of little ones I hear, 
Wails of mothers pierce my ear; 
Groans from souls that long to know 
Freedom from their awful woe. 
Conscience sounds the awful knell 
That their souls are doomed to hell; 
Day and night they never cease 
Seeking to obtain release. 

To gods of wood and stone they pray, 
Burning incense night and day; 
Vows and vigils do they keep, 
Vainly at the graves they weep; 
But in these they can not find 
Pow'r to break the chains that bind ; 
On in darkness still they grope, 
Without God, and without hope. 

As I hear these wails of woe, 
Jesus calls for me to go 
Preach the year of Jubilee; 
Set the sin-bound captives free; 
Tell them that the price is paid, 
Every sacrifice is made; 
If they only will believe, 
Peace and pardon they'll receive. 

Dare I vain excuses make 

While my Saviour's heart doth ache ? 

Aches to tell them of His love, 

How He left His throne above, 

And upon the cursed tree 

Shed the blood that makes them free? 

No! my talents now I bring 

To the service of my King. 



36 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Gold and silver, with their shine, 
Can not quench this love of mine; 
Friends and loved ones, with their pleas, 
Tempt me not to live in ease. 
For the wails of sin and woe, 
And the Voice that calls to go, 
Fill my heart and spirit so 
That I never will say, "no." 

Wilmoth A. Farmer. 



CHAPTER IV 

Missionary Call. Activity in Behalf of Missions. 

Severe Illness. Preparation at Nyack 

Missionary Training School 

Oh, could I tell, ye surely would believe it! 

Oh, could I only say what I have seen! 
How should I tell, or how can ye receive it, 

How, till He bringeth you where I have been? 

Meyers. 

All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye there- 
fore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe 
all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with 
you alway, even unto the end of the world. — Jesus. 

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the 
heavenly vision. — St. Paul. 

RS. FARMER remained in Meridian two 
years, faithfully discharging all duties 
which fell to her lot. She was the center 
of much of the religious activity among 
the young ladies in the school. She con- 
ducted services, exhorted the students, 
prayed with and for them, gave them much 
helpful counsel, and above all, lived such a godly life before 
them, that its influence lives to-day. Afterward, a younger 
brother desiring her help, she went to Blountsville, Alabama, 
where she spent two years in teaching. 

At the time of her consecration she had, of course, cov- 
enanted most sincerely and definitely with God, to be ab- 
solutely and only His, to be used when and where He 
thought best. Such a deep consecration would naturally 
embrace in it the consideration of service upon the foreign 
field; for Christ is to-day as much interested in the evangel- 
ization of the world as when He said to the little group 



A\ oif't^ft' tic 



38 Ada Beeson Farmer 

about Him : "Go ye into all the world and preach the gos- 
pel to every creature." O that He had the willing hearts 
to carry it out! This is sometimes the reason why young 
people refuse to renounce all and follow the Lord where- 
soever He may lead, lest He should lead them to the for- 
eign mission field. They fear the danger ( ?) of putting 
themselves wholly in His hands, and by that very refusal 
place themselves in the most dangerous attitude possible. 
It is tantamount to saying, "I will be master of my life, 
and do what I think is best in reference to it." What an 
absurd and untenable position to hold! Oh, the strange in- 
fatuation and perversity of the human heart ! 

Another cause which drove home to the heart of Mrs. 
Farmer the need of the foreign field was the fact that, much 
of her time being spent among students, she necessarily 
from time to time heard lectures and addresses and at- 
tended meetings and conventions relative to this great ques- 
tion. Then, too, the Student Volunteer Movement was 
very active at this time and had no small influence upon 
her, especially since the brother with whom she was teach- 
ing in Blountsville had recently become an earnest Vol- 
unteer. 

As the days went on, the lost and woeful condition of the 
heathen world, and her own personal duty towards that 
world of darkness, became an intolerable burden. She 
felt that with her knowledge of the only Savior of man- 
kind, who had saved and equipped her for something in 
life, she was in verity a debtor to those who yet sat "in 
darkness and the shadow of death." And she reasoned 
rightly, too; for no young man or woman can escape the 
dilemma he faces when he considers his relation to the 
evangelization of the world. 

The convictions of her mind and heart, together with all 
other providential indications, resulted in a definite call to 
the heathen world. She dared to obey God at any cost ; 
and we remember how gladly she remarked, a few days 
before passing away, "I was not disobedient unto the 
heavenly vision." 

During the summer of 1898, which was the first vaca- 



Ada Beeson Farmer 39 

tion period after she had gone to Blountsville to teach, she 
attended a Young Women's Christian Association conven- 
tion held at Asheville, North Carolina. The Young Men's 
Christian Association conference was also held at the same 
time and place. The occasion brought together many of 
the prominent Bible teachers and missionary leaders of the 
Student Volunteer Movement, Robert Speer, John Mott, 
and others being present. The addresses on foreign mis- 
sions were unusually good, as some of the speakers had 
just returned from an extended tour of the principal mis- 
sion fields. Fortunately, we have one letter written by Mrs. 
Farmer, referring to this convention. What she says about 
the meetings and speakers, shows that the fire was flaming 
in her own bosom, and the result is told in a phrase or two. 
"I have volunteered as a missionary; do not know when or 
where I will go, but am only waiting for the Lord to open 
up the way. 'Where He leads me, I will follow,' and I 
know He will lead me where I can do most good for Him." 

On her return home she was all on fire for foreign mis- 
sions. She bought a campaign library, tracts, Student 
Volunteer Movement literature of all kinds, and began to 
earnestly arouse all who came within her reach. She 
held missionary meetings in the school and vicinity, and 
at other small towns whenever the opportunity was given. 
There was enkindled in her soul such a love for Jesus Christ 
and the heathen world that nothing could quench it. 

The second year at school was a very trying one, on ac- 
count of sickness in her brother's family. She, ever ready 
to do the duty first and nearest at hand, no matter of what 
nature, helped nurse and keep house, besides doing her 
regular quota of school work. The vacation days of the 
summer which followed were also filled up with much serv- 
ice for Christ and missions. 

It is not a matter of surprise to find that when she re- 
turned at the close of the summer, to her old home in North 
Alabama, she was worn and tired far beyond her strength. 
She was soon laid low with typhoid fever, which finally 
gave way to severe inflammatory rheumatism. The days of 



40 Ada Beeson Farmer 

suffering and physical weakness lengthened into weeks, and 
weeks into months. Naturally not a strong and robust 
woman, the disease wasted and brought her down to the 
mouth of the grave. Before being stricken down, she had 
come to believe that God's choice of the mission field for 
her was China. Her eldest sister, referring in a recent let- 
ter to this time of illness, says: "In her delirium, while sick 
of typhoid, she thought she was in China, and was often 
seen kneeling in her bed praying for the dear Chinese wo- 
men and children. It was indeed a touching sight. She 
lingered between life and death for many weeks, and when 
the fever left her, she was seized with inflammatory rheu- 
matism, causing her intense suffering, and rendering her 
unable to walk for about a year. All the while, she knew 
that God was calling her to the foreign mission field, and she 
was often heard to sing, 'I will go where you want me to 
go, dear Lord,' during those days of suffering and waiting." 

The members of her family, who loved her so dearly, 
waited about her bedside in untiring devotion, and greatest 
apprehension, lest she should slip away to the home beyond. 
Every medical attention and care were given to her. Her 
brother-in-law, Doctor McWhorter, spared not himself in 
the least, but, with more than professional fidelity, min- 
istered to her day and night. 

At last, the crisis was past and health began to slowly 
return to the poor emaciated body. God had not only 
spared her life, but worked most graciously in the hearts 
of some members of the family who had been opposed to 
her going to China. What weak and dependent creatures 
we are! Reader, are you holding on to some loved one 
whom God is calling out to His work? Do you not know 
that you can not measure strength with the Lord? The one 
you love so dearly and can not bear to have leave you 
may be called home to be with the Lord, and you will then 
have to give them up whether you will or not. However 
hard it is at times to say, yet God's will and way are always 
best, and let us not attempt to thwart His plans and pur- 
pose, either in our own or other's lives. He has many 
ways of bringing our wills into subjection to His own, and 



Ada Beeson Farmer 41 

if one way is not effective He may resort to something 
stronger. 

As soon as Mrs. Farmer's strength would permit, she 
went to Collinsville, Alabama, to recuperate, and, when 
strong enough, was pleased to teach the small children of 
her sister, and other little ones of the neighborhood. 

No incident is trivial to God. All that takes place in our 
daily life is only a part of the great whole. Because it 
comes in broken bits, it is like a puzzle map, which, when 
first placed before a child bewilders him, but after a while 
he is able to fit each piece into another, until the whole is 
complete. Even in this life, we can sometimes take the little 
broken pieces of events and incidents and fit them together 
closely and correctly enough to show us that we have made 
no mistake, and that the pieces so joined belong to each 
other. How blessed Christians would be if they acted al- 
ways upon the thought which they do admit, that "All 
things work together for good to them that love the Lord, 
to them that are called according to his purpose." 

Having settled definitely her field of labor, Mrs. Farmer 
next offered herself to the Mission Board of the Southern 
Methodist Church, to be sent to China. She was favorably 
received, but was delayed because funds were not sufficient 
to send out new candidates; besides, there were many ap- 
plications in ahead of hers, and there was nothing to do but 
wait until the matter could be taken up with her later on. 

During the summer that followed she attended an edu- 
cational convention in Birmingham, Alabama. Coinciden- 
tal with this convention, a meeting of the Christian and Mis- 
sionary Alliance was being held in the city. Her love and 
zeal for missions made her perfectly at home in the serv- 
ices of this deeply spiritual and eminently missionary peo- 
ple. It was not the first time she had known of the Chris- 
tian and Missionary Alliance, for, through her brother who 
was a Student Volunteer she had heard of the organization, 
but this was the first time she had had an opportunity of 
meeting the leader of the society. Seeking an interview 
with Reverend A. B. Simpson, she plainly told him of her 
call and intense desire to go to China, and of the Methodist 



42 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Board's delay. Moreover, realizing the difficulty of mas- 
tering a hard Eastern tongue, which would increase the 
longer she waited, she thought perhaps God was leading 
her to apply to the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Doc- 
tor Simpson received her kindly, and advised her going to 
the Missionary Training School at Nyack, New York. 

While she was so desperately ill of fever and rheuma- 
tism, her brother, Doctor J. W. Beeson, was deeply touched 
by her suffering and her desire to go to the mission field; 
so he resolved that, if God would raise her up to 
health once again, he would be responsible for any further 
training she might need, and also send her to the field. This 
resolution he nobly carried out, for as soon as her strength 
was sufficient, she was at Nyack faithfully studying the 
Scriptures and other kindred subjects which would better fit 
her for her vocation. That her time was well spent there, 
the large assortment of note-books, outlines of addresses, 
sermon notes, analyses of Scripture, etc., which are in our 
possession attest; and her brother was more than repaid 
by her work and gratitude. 

Those who have attended the Missionary School at 
Nyack, or similar Bible schools, can well imagine how per- 
fectly happy in such a place one of Mrs. Farmer's tem- 
perament would be. Situated as the school is, opposite 
Tarrytown, on a bluff overlooking the most beautiful sec- 
tion of the Hudson River, the scenery is magnificent and 
naturally inspires one to devotion and contemplation. When 
we add to this the systematic and well-regulated manage- 
ment of the school, together with the deeply spiritual, and 
yet withal, cheery and happy atmosphere which pervades 
the place, we have indeed sufficient material to make it a 
"Mount of Transfiguration" which one, like Peter of old, 
is loath to leave. 

Mrs. Farmer remained there one term, and, to her, it 
proved to be a place where she truly came to see "no man 
save Jesus only." Her spiritual views and horizon were 
widened; her faith was made strong and prepared for ex- 
ploits in the kingdom of God hitherto unattempted. Her 
love of Christ was deepened, and, proportionately, her love 



Ada Beeson Farmer 43 

for a dying world was increased. She felt as never before 
the need of carrying the gospel to the heathen world. As 
she studied the Scriptures and attended the lectures given 
by pious and faithful teachers of the Word of God, she was 
brought to see how the evangelization of the world and the 
second advent of Christ were correlated. Consequently, 
the truth of Christ's premillenial coming became one of the 
most precious doctrines to her. It had no small influence 
upon her own life, for she felt that to be occupied with the 
advancement of His kingdom and interests was of para- 
mount importance and one of the best preparations of her 
own life to meet Him when He should appear. 

In a school where Christ was so honored and exalted, 
and His Word not picked to pieces, but believed, she could 
not but grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord 
Jesus Christ. She received it as the Thessalonians of old, 
"not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word 
of God," which effectually worked in her who believed. 

Another truth which she came to see the scripturalness 
of, was that of divine healing. This doctrine she adorned 
and exemplified most beautifully and consistently, holding 
it in all sanity and freedom from the fanaticism with which 
it is sometimes found. God again and again delivered her 
from sickness in answer to prayer and faith in His Word, 
and used her to pray for others who were sick until they 
received the healing touch from Him who is "the same 
yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." 

At the close of the term, in 1901, she was elected by the 
student body as one of the commencement speakers. She 
chose as the subject of her essay, "The Outlook for China," 
in which she poured forth the feelings of her heart in ref- 
erence to that great mission field, and the duty of Chris- 
tians respecting it. 



AWAY, ACROSS THE OCEAN. 

Away, across the ocean, 

Away, across the sea; 
The cry of dying millions 

Is calling still to me. 
It rings through all my being, 

I can no longer stay; 
It is the voice of Jesus, 

And I must haste away. 

Away, where China's millions 

In depths of darkness lie; 
Away, where India's myriads 

In Christless anguish die ; 
Away, where Congo's waters 

'Mid heathen nations roll, 
The cry of dying millions 

Is piercing all my soul. 

In vain the world would tempt me 

To seek my fortune here; 
In vain my heart would hold me, 

By friendship's bond so dear. 
My Master calls me onward, 

My heart is all aglow, 
My home is with the heathen, 

And, Oh ! I long to go. 

I do not want your pity, 

I only feel for you; 
For angels well might envy, 

The work that I may do. 
Farewell, my friends, my kindred, 

Think of me when you pray; 
I hear my Master calling, 

And I must haste away. 

Some day across the river, 

Some day beyond the skies, 
There'll be no tearful partings; 

There'll be no broken ties. 
Oh, shall your crown be studded 

With stars, that glorious day? 
I go to win my jewels! 

Farewell, I haste away. 

A. B. Simpson. 



CHAPTER V 

Practical Missionary Preparation. Visit to Old 
Home. Voyage to China 

Farewell, my friends, my kindred, 
. Think of me when you pray ; 
I hear my Master calling, 
And I must haste away. 

Simpson. 

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians. So, as 
much as in me is I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at 
Rome also. — St. Paul. 

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, 
they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost 
departed unto Selucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus. — 
St. Luke. 




HEORY, while essential and necessary to 
any successful propaganda of the truth, 
yet, if it is not joined to good works, is 
only so much dogma held in the brain, and 
is of little use. We must not only study 
how to save men and women, but must go, 
and, with our knowledge of soul-winning, 
blessed and guided by God's Spirit, actually save them. In 
our Bible and training schools we study the problem of soul- 
saving, and in actual life we must solve that problem. 

It is a requirement of prime importance — demanded by 
mission boards of their candidates — that they show some 
fruit or evidence, in the home land, of the divine call to la- 
bor among the non-Christian nations. Moreover, it is a 
pretty well-established fact, that a man or woman who 
loves and wins souls at home for the kingdom of Christ, 
will do so on the foreign mission field. Mission boards 
can not afford to waste time and money upon candidates 
who have only a theoretical idea of preaching the gospel. 
The opportunity to prove one's faith by works is ample 



4.6 Ada Beeson Farmer 

at home, and, in the injunction of Paul, "Let them also first 
be proved." 

Mrs. Farmer did not go to the field immediately after 
finishing her course at Nyack, but spent the year following 
actively engaged in evangelistic and soul-saving work with 
a band of earnest Christians at Nashville, Tennessee. Rev- 
erend J. O. McClurkan, who was at the head of the work 
there, found her to be one "approved unto God, a workman 
that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of 
truth." In a city the size of Nashville she had ample scope 
to exercise her talents. Tent meetings, slum work, street 
services, house-to-house visitations, missionary meetings, 
personal work, all came in the routine of Christian service. 
In addition to the above duties, she also taught some classes 
in a Bible school which had been started by the same band 
of workers, and, occasionally, helped in newspaper and 
secretarial work. 

The year was not spent in vain, for God used her in 
the salvation of souls. Men and women were lead into a 
deeper knowledge of God, and many have cause to thank 
Him that she ever crossed their pathway in life. In a letter 
written to her brother, dated November 13, 1901, two 
months before sailing for China, we get a splendid view of 
what she was doing at that time. 

I am glad you have been in some holiness meetings. Last Sunday 
was a blessed day with us. At nine o'clock a. m., Sabbath school, 
after which a crowd of workers went out to the cotton-factory district 
and held a street meeting. It would have made your heat ache to 
have seen the dirty, tired people hang on the fences and listen. Two 
were converted and one sanctified. I and some others went out Tues- 
day night and had a prayer service. There were two women and 
some children, and it looked like the time would be wasted, but both 
women were beautifully sanctified. Praise God for sending the 
hungry hearts and then giving the Bread ! 

We had services at three p. m., and from there the workers went 
out and held three or four street services in different places. One 
person professed conversion, and three came in from the meetings and 
were saved at the night service. There were four who professed 
conversion and one reclaimed that night. 

I can not say yet when I will sail. We have not heard from New 
York as to their decision. Will let you know when I hear. To-night 
I took the Methodist Episcopal pastor's prayer-meeting service. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 47 

With much love and prayers, I say, "good night." * * * Be all 
God's. 

In a letter to her sister, dated December 3, she says: 

Last week was a very busy week with me. The way was opened 
for me to present missions in East End church twice, and Carrol 
Street church once, besides the two lessons here in school each day 
except one, until I left for McEwen, Tennessee, for the convention. 
There we had a good time. The Lord was there. We had a blessed 
mission service. One was definitely called to foreign missions, and 
another was confirmed in the fact that that is what God wants him 
to do. We had a blessed day Sunday. I spent the morning quietly, 

then Brother J and I went about three-quarters of a mile to see 

two sick people. 

She had hoped that it would be possible to get stop-overs 
at various points en route to San Francisco, from which 
place she was to sail, in order that she might present the 
cause of missions, so she closes the above by saying: 

I will let you know if I can stop by, how long a stay, and all, as 
soon as I find out myself. I want to present missions, if the Lord 
opens the way, there at Arcadia. I am invited to do so at Gadsden, 
First Methodist church ; pray that I may get the leading of the Spirit 
in all things. I am well, happy, in victory in Him, and learning 
lessons in prayer I have never known. 

As she was to sail in January, 1902, with a party of 
missionaries, she naturally wished to pay a farewell visit 
to her people and the old home-place. In letters written to 
her sister and brother she says: 

I do not know what day I can go home, may be to-night, or 
may be Monday or Tuesday. We are to sail with Mr. and Mrs. 
Jaffray, and Mr. Zehr; at least we are hoping to do so — will likely 
hear to-day. Pray for us. If I stop off at Arcadia — and I am be- 
lieving for it — we want a missionary meeting. Please pray and ar- 
range for it. Pray much for just the doors to be opened that should 
be. We hope to stop at Monroe, and other places in Louisiana, the 
Lord willing. With a heart full of love, much prayer, and blessed 
Christmas wishes for all. May God bless. 

Christmas eve, on the train between Chattanooga and 
Keener, her old home, in a letter to her brother, she says : 

You see I am on my way home for a few days. * * * I wired 
Brother Funk to know what time the Jaffrays sail, so we could 
arrange to go with them. We may be delayed for Miss Goode, but 
I am looking to Him to arrange so we can go with the J — s. It 
will be much more pleasant to have a married couple along. 



48 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Enumerating the names of five missionaries who were 
soon to sail for their respective fields, she adds: 

Praise God for answered prayer! I may go back to Nashville 
in a few days and help Annie Goode, and be there for a farewell 
meeting. May this Christmas give all of you a broader and deeper 
conception of Christ, and may it be a time of great victory for God 
in the college. 

What did those few days of farewell spent at the old 
home mean? Dear readers, unless you have gone through 
a similar experience, it is difficult for you to fully appre- 
ciate all that the soul passes through at such a time. 

Who can fitly describe the feelings of the dear parents, 
whose heads were even then covered with locks of silver- 
white hair, as they are at last brought face to face with 
giving one of their most beloved children to work for the 
Lord in a far-off land? There has been so much said about 
going; the past weeks have been filled with various activi- 
ties, such as making clothes, buying various articles for a 
missionary's outfit, and the past few days have been busily 
spent in selecting and packing one's books, choice trinkets, 
or mementoes of old school-days; the family photos have 
been carefully packed in the case to be shipped, and many 
other things, too numerous to mention, have occupied the 
time of Mrs. Farmer; but now the day and hour are fast 
approaching when father and mother must commit her into 
God's hands, say farewell, and see her leave them for a 
strange and untried country. 

Will she stand the climate? She is unmarried, and with- 
out any relatives near her — will she have the care and pro- 
tection that a woman needs, especially in a land where 
woman is accounted of so little consequence? What if she 
gets sick ! Will any one nurse her? Will she be able to mas- 
ter the difficult Eastern language? Before, she was living 
in an adjoining State; how easy to go to her in case of 
need! But now she will be so far away! How about the 
future? These and hundreds of other such questions would 
rack the minds and hearts of the loving parents and broth- 
ers and sisters. 

But what were the feelings of Mrs. Farmer herself at 
this time? She has left us no written record, but, recalling 



Ada Beeson Farmer 49 

what she has told us, together with what we have experi- 
enced when called to forsake native land, father, mother, 
brothers and sisters for the sake of the gospel, we can 
easily and sympathetically enter into her emotions during 
those few days spent at home. 

We can see her bright and cheerful face as she moved 
about the house, here and there, withal endeavoring to 
make each one happy, while her own heart was breaking. 
How difficult to be simple and natural, especially at the 
table when all are gathered together for the Christmas 
feast! The tempting Christmas viands, on other similar 
occasions so relished, now almost choke her, because her 
heart is so full. What furtive glances she casts at the 
faces of the dear father and mother, brothers and sisters, 
wondering if she would ever again have the sacred joy 
of spending another holiday season with them. How dear 
every tree, flower, nook, and corner of the old home be- 
come during these days when she is so soon to leave them 
all. She makes the rounds once or twice a day; to the 
barn, garden, her favorite peach-tree — now sear with win- 
ter's cold — the old well, and all the places which have been 
her favorite haunts since childhood. In the evening as 
they gather around the fireside, there is something which 
seems to hinder the free course of conversation, and a 
spirit of quietness staunches the flow of happy words; the 
eyes of all seem to be near the melting point; and it is 
more interesting to gaze into the fire than into each other's 
faces. What a relief, at last, to break up the circle and 
slip away to her own bedroom, and, when snugly tucked 
in bed, just to let the tears which have been in the heart 
all day pour themselves out until the soul is temporarily 
relieved of its sorrow and strain! I say temporarily, for 
possibly even unto midnight hours she pours out her soul 
in ardent agonizing prayer. Through her tears she tells 
the Master she has heard Him saying "Go ye into all the 
world and preach the gospel," and that she will be true 
to His and duty's call, no matter how great the cost. Then, 
as the vision of the dear ones arises before her, she pleads 
with Christ to help them bear the separation. 



50 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Ah, here is the battle-ground of many a soul who is 
called to the foreign field ! When it comes to breaking 
home ties, how dreadful the conflict, and how often, at 
last, are the claims of loved ones allowed to take precedence 
of those of Jesus Christ and His kingdom! But the words 
of Christ will be most surely fulfilled, "Whosoever will save 
his life shall lose it. Whosoever will lose his life for my 
sake shall find it." The grace to forsake all and follow 
Christ was not bestowed upon Mrs. Farmer in vain, as her 
subsequent career will show. The promise of the Master, 
"Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left 
house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or 
wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 
but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, 
and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and 
lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal 
life," was most fully realized in her life. 

Such days, so full of love, tears, sadness, devotion, con- 
secration and joy, are soon past, but the result upon the 
soul of whomsoever passes through such a time will be 
lasting, and when, in the future, great temptations sway 
the soul, and the vision of the loved ones at home, together 
with the remembrance of the vows of consecration and 
devotion to Christ, close in about him, he will find himself 
a thousandfold stronger to resist and be true to God and 
duty. Let us thank God for the sad but sacred hours that 
come to all who love and serve Him, for "peaceable fruits 
of righteousness" will surely be the result. 

From a letter written to Mrs. Conger, her sister, we find 
that Mrs. Farmer did return to Nashville before sailing 
for China. 

My Dear Julia: 

I so much wanted to go by Meridian, Arcadia, etc., and hoped to 
up to the last, until I did not have time to let you know. The 
Father's will, not mine, be done. Several came in and helped sew 
Monday. Tuesday we packed and attended to all bills. Then I 
got exchange, etc., which took time. Later I cut out a wool waist 
and made it after supper. We sewed till ten p. m., and went to 
watch-night service till one a. m., came back upstairs and finished 
waist by two a. m., went to bed between two and three o'clock, arose 
at five, and left Nashville at seven a. m. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 51 

I asked the Lord for enough to support a Bible-woman the first 
year while I was studying the language, so I would be preaching 
before I speak Chinese, and He has given it to me. Praise His dear 
name forever ! We are so happy and restful in going out. I feel sure 
many are praying for us. 

We are now at Texarkana, Arkansas, awaiting our train. We 
missed ours just seven minutes, but the connection is in the Father's 
hands and He will bring us through all right. You see I am getting 
to be quite a good Presbyterian in this respect ! The verses the Lord 
gave me on my birthday were, "Be strong and of a good courage," 
and "Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." On New 
Year's, "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth." 
Isa. xliii. 19. Look it up and read the whole verse. Just as I left 
yesterday morn this came, Ps. xxxvii. 25, 3-4; this morn, Phil. i:6. 
Read it. 

The above letter was written on the train the day after 
she left Nashville for China. I have quoted portions of it 
in order that we may see how busily she spent her time. 
This was so characteristic of her all through her life. 

Her diary entry for January 1, 1902, has the following: 

New Year's verse, Isa. xliii: 19. Watch meeting, glorious time 
in Him. Left Nashville for China seven-thirty a. m. Verse the Lord 
gave me, Isa. Iii:i2; Psa. lxxxiv:u. A happy, peaceful, restful day; 
the consciousness of being in His will. Reached Memphis four 

p. m. Found Mrs. P ; took tea with her. Left baggage with 

dear old lady from Texas — God save her son! 

The record of the diary is dropped until she is aboard 
ship, and the only link that I have between the above and 
the next journal entry is a post-card written to her mother, 
dated January 7 : 

My Dear Mother: 

We are here for twenty-five minutes, so I will write you a card. 
It is real May weather here. The roses are in bloom and the trees 
green. We have passed through orange orchard after orange orchard, 
and they were beautiful, ladened with the golden fruit. I really 
wanted to get out and pluck some from the trees, but of course could 
not. The Lord is very precious to me. I wish for you and father 
that you might see what I have seen, and get some of the fresh 
oranges. 

She sailed on the S. S. City of Peking, from San Fran- 
cisco for Hongkong, China, January 11, 1902, with a party 
of eight Christian and Missionary Alliance missionaries, 
some returning from furlough in America, and others going 



52 Ada Beeson Farmer 

to the field for the first time. In her "Daily Light," under 
the date January n, we find the following: "This day I 
sailed out from San Francisco, leaving loved ones and na- 
tive land for souls in dark China." 

She was never a good sailor, even under the best of cir- 
cumstances, so we are not surprised to find in her journal 
entry of January 15 : 

The message from the Father on awakening, "My God shall supply 
all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." On 
this I arose and shook off my seasickness in His name. Sat on deck 
most of the day. Moonlight on water sublime. Sat on deck com- 
muning with Him. Spirit of prayer for the whole world. Blessed 
time in Him. Retired and committed all to One who never sleeps. 

The voyage was marked by nothing extraordinary, but 
was passed as the usual sea trip is. 

[January 29.] 2 Chron. xvi:g, my verse for the day. [After 
speaking of the insipidity of the lives of some of the passengers on 
board ship.] I had sweet communion with Him, and thanked God 
for putting better into my heart and life. Had a good time singing 
His praises together in social hall in afternoon. No seasickness this 
day, praise God ! 

They reached Yokohama, Japan, February 2, and under 
that date appears the following: 

Union Church, Japanese service. Blessed communion service with 
Japanese. Left Yokohama at daybreak. Beautiful weather all day — 
no seasickness. Knelt to pray, sweet communion. 

Two days later a full day of shopping and sight-seeing 
was spent at Kobe, Japan. She was much amused at the 
"Any Price" wares of the Japanese, for when she began 
to bargain for a few porcelain articles she found out that 
it was indeed "any price" but a cheap one. 

Mrs. Farmer touched the land of China for the first 
time at Shanghai, February 8. It was the first day of the 
Chinese New Year, and she could not have seen China 
under happier outward appearances, as this is the greatest 
festival of all the year in the Chinese calendar. The whole 
nation goes into holiday attire, business is suspended for 
quite a while, and the time given up to feasting, paying calls, 
and planning for the new year. The day was spent on 
shore, and the night at the home of a friend, which no doubt 



Ada Beeson Farmer 53 

was greatly enjoyed, for she speaks of it the next day by 
saying: 

After a good night's rest in a real bed, awoke at 6 a. m. Prayer. 
"Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you. Hence- 
forth I call you not servants, but I have called you friends." 

[February 10.] My verse, Psa. lxxiii:26. Beautiful day. Began 
Ruth. Lord, make me unselfish like Naomi and true like Ruth. 
Finished Miss C 's cape. 

[February n.] Finished book of Ruth. Came into Hongkong 
at eight-thirty p. m. Hongkong, a beautiful city, hills rising up near 

the water; therefore, a city set upon a hill. The talk of Miss M 

and friend so foolish. Thank God for giving me something to live 
for! 

The next two days were spent in shopping in Hongkong 
and making preparations for the trip inland to Wucheo. 
The lack of comfort and privacy on the river steamer was 
soon realized, but Mrs. Farmer had the much-prized virtue 
of always being able to happily adapt herself to circum- 
stances. Many missionaries make their own and the lives 
of their coworkers very unhappy, because they fret and 
complain about the inconveniences of missionary life. We 
can not hope to find in the East the comforts and conven- 
iences we have at home, and so we should make up our 
minds to gladly adapt ourselves to the conditions and 
people. 

The party of missionaries went, "First Class Chinese" to 
Wucheo, it being so much cheaper than European accom- 
modation, and besides, one has a better opportunity to 
preach the gospel to the Chinese passengers. Mrs. Farmer's 
impressions are jotted down in one or two exclamations: 

We soon got settled down in our "First Class Chinese" quarters. 
Lunch on polished table — paper doilies! Ladies and gentlemen — 
curtain between! New experience! 

[February 14.] Another night on Chinese boat. The scenery 
beautiful, but thousands of souls who have never heard of Christ. 
The devil in control. I praise God for letting me come to China 
to witness to them of our blessed Master. 

[The next day, February 15, they reached Wucheo, where the 
central receiving home of the mission is located.] A blessed time 
of communion. Promise for the time in China, Isa. liv :i 7, 15. As 
we neared Wucheo, my heart burned within me. Praise God for 
being here! My first view of a real Chinese city. Awoke in bed 
praising God. So happy in Him! 



CHINA'S MILLIONS 

Church of the living God, awake! 

Awake from thy sinful sleep ! 
Dost thou not hear thy brother's cry 

Still sounding o'er the deep? 
Is it naught that one of ev'ry four 

Of all the human race, 
Should in China die, having never heard 

The gospel of God's grace? 

Watchman of God, thou seest now 

The sword of destruction come; 
Why soundest not the warning cry 

'Mid hosts of heathendom? 
God says that if thou warnest not 

The wicked at His command, 
He shall perish, but his blood shall be 

Required at thy hand. 

Go, for the Saviour sends thee forth 

To call from the distant East. 
Idolators for whom Christ died, 

To heaven's marriage feast. 
The gospel that thou hearest now 

The power of God shall prove 
To triumph o'er the souls of men 

By th' omnipotence of love. 

H. G. Guinness. 



CHAPTER VI 

Story of the Christian and Missionary Alliance in 
South China 



Canst thou shut thine ear to the awful sound, 

The voice of thy brother s blood, 
A million a month in China are dying without God. 

Guinness. 

To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast 
in another man's line of things made ready to our hands. — St. Paul. 

While vast continents are shrouded in almost utter darkness, and 
hundreds of millions suffer the horrors of heathenism, the burden of 
proof rests on you to show that the circumstances in which God has 
placed you were meant by God to keep you out of the foreign field. 
— Keith Falconer. 

N order that the readers of this book may 
have an intelligent conception of that por- 
tion of the Chinese Empire to which Mrs. 
Farmer devoted her missionary labors, 
and also of the South China Mission, we 
think a chapter telling of the Kuangsi 
province, and the founding of the Chris- 
tian and Missionary Alliance mission there, will not be at 
all out of place at this juncture. 

Kuangsi is one of the southern provinces of China 
proper. It covers an extensive area, hence its name, "Ex- 
tensive West." The Statesman's Year-book gives its area 
as about seventy-seven thousand square miles. 

The whole province is mountainous, which not only 
makes it at once beautiful, but also affords security for the 
bands of robbers or banditti which abound in the north- 
western part of Kuangsi. The peaks and cliffs of the 
mountains, unlike the low earth hills of the Canton province, 
are of limestone, and rise perpendicularly upwards many 
hundreds of feet. Many of them are of the most grotesque 




S6 Ada Beeson Farmer 

and picturesque shape and form. At a distance they re- 
semble old castles, towers, forts, and other architectural 
designs. 

If Kuangsi has as yet no railways, she is neverthe- 
less blessed with excellent waterways. The province is 
drained by the famous West River and its tributaries, which 
afford a passage to almost all parts of the province. These 
streams in many places are steep, boiling, seething rapids; 
there being some three hundred and sixty on the Fu River 
alone between Wucheo and Kweilin the capital. Conse- 
quently, only small steam-launches can ascend such watery 
steeps unless the rivers are swollen by much rain, and even 
then only so far; but the native boats abound by the thou- 
sands and there is scarcely any place too shallow for the 
hard-working Chinese sailor, who, with pushing, pulling, 
yelling, and cursing, reaches the top of the most difficult 
rapid. The descent, attended with danger, is exciting and 
very rapid, being a kind of "shoot-the-chutes" experience. 

The rocky river-bed is a natural filter, which purifies the 
water and makes it so clear that the bottom of the river 
may be seen through many feet of water. These rivers of 
clear water, reflecting the tints of the sky and surrounding 
mountains and flowing through deep chasms of limestone 
cliffs partially covered with wild flowers and stunted growth 
of all kinds, with the fantastic outline of the blue peaks 
in the distance, all make Kuangsi justly famous for its mag- 
nificent scenery. On a trip from Wucheo to Kweilin one 
passes through a veritable "Garden of the Gods." No one 
who has ever seen it can forget the beauty of the little town 
and vicinity of Iangsoh! Built upon the sides of a rocky 
declivity sloping into the Fu River, tall castle-like peaks 
surround it, and through the foliage one catches an occa- 
sional glimpse of a quaint temple or shrine, and, if to this 
we add the river, upon whose bosom float the odd-looking 
boats and fishing-craft of every kind, we have a picture 
which will awaken the love of nature and poetic sentiment 
in the most prosaic mind. Chinese poets and artists have 
felt the beauty and spell of the scenery of Kuangsi, and 
with brush and pen have portrayed, upon the scrolls which 



Ada Beeson Farmer 57 

adorn the reception-rooms of the wealthy, the glorious beau- 
ties of nature of this part of China. Although there is 
much railroad talk, as yet nothing has materialized, and 
the missionary who travels far interior thanks God for the 
excellent means of transportation afforded by the rivers of 
the province. 

The climate of Kuangsi, on the whole, is very good. Of 
course there is a pronounced wet and dry season, as in other 
parts of China. In the northern part of the province the 
summers are not so hot, humid, or long, and the winters 
are always accompanied by frost, and, sometimes, light 
snow-falls. Missionaries find it quite an agreeable climate, 
and not so hard as the YangtsT valley. Still, one has to 
be prepared for all kinds of weather, for often the fall in 
temperature is sudden, being produced by the cold winds 
from the north. 

The population and dialects of Kuangsi are very hetero- 
geneous. That portion of the province contiguous to the 
Canton province, has a population of several millions, 
speaking Cantonese; that portion touching Hunan, Kwei- 
cheo, and Uinnan, has received a large number of emigrants 
from these provinces, especially Hunan, so that the larger 
half of the Kuangsi province speaks Mandarin. In the 
mountains of the northwest, are to be found many, aborigi- 
nes, known as the Chuang, Chong, Miao, Tao, Tong, and 
Lolo tribes. In speech and customs, they differ from the 
regular Chinese. With the exception of the efforts of Ro- 
man Catholic missionaries, nothing worth mentioning has 
yet been done to bring to these tribes the knowledge of the 
Lord Jesus Christ. Several members of the Christian and 
Missionary Alliance mission have, on itinerant trips, passed 
through some of the districts peopled by these tribes. Those 
of them who understand Mandarin, and can read the Chi- 
nese characters, may be reached by that medium. But what 
of the great numbers whose language has yet to become in- 
telligible and reduced to some form of writing before they 
can be told of the love of Christ? Here is a broad field of 
the Kuangsi province, pregnant with all the glory and hard- 
ship incidental to pioneer mission work! Who will bring 



58 Ada Beeson Farmer 

the message of salvation to them? It has long been the de- 
sire and prayer of the South China mission of the Chris- 
tian and Missionary Alliance, that God would thrust out 
some worthy, courageous, and zealous men and women 
for this work. May this prayer soon be answered. 

Kuangsi has a very large trade in timber, and almost 
any day in the year numerous large rafts are seen floating 
down the waterways to be sold below where wood is much 
scarcer. 

The mountainsides and the little valleys between afford 
splendid pasturage, so there is much cattle-raising, tanning, 
and trading in hides. Rice is the chief grain grown, but 
in the north, corn of not a bad quality is also cultivated. 
Sugar cane abounds, and a ready market is found for the 
coarse sugar which is produced by a crude process. The 
output of poultry and pork finds a lucrative market in Hong- 
kong and Canton. 

The physical features of Kuangsi indicate that it is rich 
in coal, iron and the precious metals; but lack of capital, 
intelligent operation of mines, with the awful bane of su- 
perstition, prevent any appreciable progress along this line. 

The native arts and crafts are well represented in Kuang- 
si, but, strange to say, most of the artisans are either 
Hunanese or Cantonese — largely the former. While often 
considered a poor province, the trade returns at the Impe- 
rial Maritime Customs show that Kuangsi must not be reck- 
oned too low in the scale after all. 

A feature of Kuangsi which hinders its material prog- 
ress is the fact that it has been the theater of repeated re- 
bellions. The security of its mountain fastnesses make it 
an ideal retreat for the marauding bands who live by plun- 
der when other means fail. A people harassed by such con- 
ditions can not be expected to prosper like those under 
happier circumstances. 

Kuangsi, while not in the van, is by no means in the rear, 
as regards the new reform which is affecting the whole of 
the Chinese Empire. She has felt the vibration of this new 
life which is pulsating in old China, and is doing her share 
to make a way for it. The new regime in educational, so- 



- ,_ 1 . V % *, -' , >, . v.*-. '"* 




Ada Beeson Farmer 59 

cial, military, and municipal regulations, which is manifest 
everywhere in the province, shows how eagerly she is en- 
deavoring to keep pace with the new order of things. 

When we consider Kuangsi as a mission field, we find that 
it is, as far as Protestant missions are concerned, compara- 
tively a new territory. Roman Catholic missions have been 
established since 1850, and while, forty odd years ago, itin- 
erant visits were made by Protestant missionaries, and some 
work carried on by native Christians, and also, for a time 
a station established at Kweip'ing by the Presbyterian mis- 
sion, yet nothing like a permanent foothold was gained un- 
til 1896, when the Christian and Missionary Alliance mis- 
sionaries succeeded in occupying a house at Wucheo. If 
we would see how God led to the establishment of the South 
China mission of the Christian and Missionary Alliance it 
will be necessary to go back a few years prior to the occu- 
pation of Wucheo. 

During the summer of 1892 Reverend A. B. Simpson, ac- 
companied by several other workers, held conventions on the 
Pacific coast. In San Francisco he made the acquaintance 
of two young people who wished very much to go to China 
to work among the Cantonese-speaking Chinese of the Can- 
ton province. As they had been teaching some of these in 
America, they felt that they would have easy access to the 
Chinese in Canton province which these represented. 

The project was favorably received by the Board of the 
Christian and Missionary Alliance, and soon after their 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Reeves were on their way 
to China. For the purpose of studying the language they 
first located at Canton, with the intention of going inland 
later, as it has ever been the cardinal principle of the Chris- 
tian and Missionary Alliance to work inland, and in those 
districts which are not yet reached by the gospel. 

A conjunction of circumstances brought Kuangsi to the 
notice of Mr. and Mrs. Reeves, and diverted them from 
the Canton province. Perhaps we should have said that 
the Spirit of God, working as He so often does with indi- 
viduals even when they themselves least realize the import 



60 Ada Beeson Farmer 

of His leadings at the time, constrained them to take up 
work in the Kuangsi province. 

Mr. Reeves was invited by an agent of the National 
Bible Society of Scotland to accompany him upon a book- 
selling tour into Kuangsi. On this trip he was made to re- 
alize the destitute condition of its eight millions of souls 
without the gospel. About this time Doctor A. B. Simpson 
paid a visit to China, and was also deeply impressed with 
the needs of Kuangsi. To make it more emphatic, and to 
show that the opportune hour had arrived, God caused the 
students of the Missionary Training Institute to become 
much concerned for this province, which was second only to 
Hunan in its hatred of foreigners and the gospel. It truly 
was the Macedonian call of the hour. The Spirit was for- 
bidding them to preach in the Canton province, which al- 
ready had such a large quota of missionaries, and was 
thrusting them far inland to the perishing millions of 
Kuangsi. 

February 25, 1894, five young men sailed from America 
to China to join Mr. and Mrs. Reeves in their work. They 
were soon hard at work on the language and only a few 
months had passed when another party, consisting of three 
ladies and two gentlemen, "farewelled" from the Gospel 
Tabernacle in New York. The little band was much 
cheered by this addition to their numbers. 

Reverend D. W. LeLacheur, then superintendent of the 
China field for the Christian and Missionary Alliance, paid 
a visit to South China and held the first convention or an- 
nual meeting. The young men, who had spent about nine 
months in language study, were appointed to itinerate in 
Kuangsi. As a result of the itineration of these brethren, 
the first mission station of the Christian and Missionary Al- 
liance in Kuangsi was opened. This came about in the fol- 
lowing way: 

On a Saturday morning, Messrs. Fee and Quick reached 
a small village in the vicinity of Tongtsinhsii, where they 
were agreeably surprised to be met by a friendly China- 
man who escorted them to a school in the village. After 
conversing and preaching awhile, they found that they had 



Ada Beeson Farmer 6i 

been mistaken for Roman Catholic priests, hence the very 
cordial welcome to white strangers. 

After spending the Sabbath in their midst, the brethren 
thought it might be a good plan to leave one or two of 
the colporters who accompanied them, and see if there was 
any opportunity to open work among the people. The next 
day as they were leaving, in accord with their own thought, 
the villagers came to ask that some one remain and teach 
them. Leaving two of their colporters, Messrs. Fee and 
Quick returned to the coast. It was not long before the 
two colporters, accompanied by two men from the village, 
brought a petition signed by the head men of the village, 
desiring that a foreign missionary be sent to reside in their 
midst and teach them. It afterwards proved, as is often 
the case with such unanimous petitions, that the motive of 
the Chinese was not purely to hear the gospel, but also to 
avail themselves of the power and prestige given by the 
presence of a white missionary. Not being aware of this 
sinister motive, the brethren did as many earnest preachers 
have done before and since, viz., proceeded to accept the 
invitation in all good faith, and used the occasion as a very 
opportune one in which to present to those lost souls their 
Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We can not, in a sketch 
like this, go much into detail, but, in a word, let us say 
that the pious lives and earnest exhortations of the two 
brethren, and their Chinese helpers, soon made a contrast 
to the surrounding heathenism which was distasteful to the 
cordial (?) villagers, consequently, they did all they could 
to induce the missionaries to leave, even going to the ex- 
treme of hatching one or two serious plots to take their 
lives, which were providentially frustrated and brought to 
naught. 

Those first two years of the mission were filled with trials 
and testings of all kinds. Scarcely any one escaped from 
serious illness; and faith, for means of personal support 
as well as to carry on the work of the mission, was sorely 
tested at times. But, over and over, God proved Himself 
the faithful One who never forsakes those who put their 
trust in Him. Being young, full of zeal and courage, un- 



62 Ada Beeson Farmer 

used to new scenes and conditions, naturally some of the 
mistakes incidental to the founding of any new work were 
occasionally made, and perhaps evoked the criticism of the 
older missionaries of other boards; but, with undaunted 
courage and a living faith in a living Master, who said, 
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel, and Lo, 
I am with you alway," they pressed forward with holy bold- 
ness in the evangelization of Kuangsi. 

On March 9, 1896, the band was cheered by the arrival 
from America of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hess and Mr. R. A. 
Jaffray. About this time a letter was received from some 
Chinese in Loting, near the border of Kuangsi and Canton 
provinces, desiring a missionary sent to them. Ten years 
before, the Church Missionary Society had a station there, 
but owing to a lack of workers had given it up. Loting, 
while not in Kuangsi, was so near the border, and so in line 
with several large cities of Kuangsi, that it was thought 
best to embrace the opportunity, which has well repaid the 
mission in spiritual results. Messrs. Christopherson and 
Howden were appointed to open a chapel there, while Doc- 
tor Glover and Mr. Fee started in quest of another new 
opening in Kuangsi proper. None but those who have 
passed through the trying experience — especially from ten 
to fifteen years ago — can fully appreciate the difficulty of 
gaining a foothold for the gospel in one of China's hostile 
interior provinces. How much tact, prayer, faith, and pa- 
tience are required! Messrs. Fee and Glover came very 
near securing a place at Kweip'ing, but being defeated, not 
only there but elsewhere, returned to the coast. 

The brethren at the little station first opened, feeling 
that a large market-town across the river would be a better 
and more suitable center for the station work, removed to 
Tongtsin, and the village chapel became an out-station. 

Mr. Fee, joined by Doctor Glover, again went forth to 
Kuangsi, determined to effect a foothold in Wucheo, which 
— as it is the very gateway to the province and an impor- 
tant river-port — is a strategic point for mission work. They 
were signally blessed, though not without much trouble (of 
which we have not space to write), and succeeded in getting 







< ^ 

HO 






Ada Beeson Farmer 63 

very good premises. Doctor Glover, with a Chinese 
brother, then proceeded to Kweip'ing where he rented a 
small place, quite unfit to live in, but it served as an enter- 
ing wedge in that strongly anti-foreign city. On returning 
to Wucheo, he and Mr. Fee were again blessed in renting 
two places, of which one was repaired and fitted up for a 
ladies' station, where Misses Donor and Glover lived — the 
first single ladies, but one other to reside in the Kuangsi 
province. The woman's work was much encouraged at this 
time by the coming of Misses Campbell and Cooney. 

In May, 1897, a place in Kweip'ing suitable for residence 
was purchased and made into a fairly comfortable mission 
home. In 1898, three ladies and two gentlemen from 
America were added to the mission, and Mr. Reeves was 
called to his heavenly home. Also, during the same year, 
Nanning, a large and important city, was opened by Messrs. 
Landis and Jaffray, and in the fall, T'enghsien, about thirty 
miles from Wucheo, was opened as a ladies' station. The 
following year Messrs. Cunningham and Howden went to 
Kweilin, the capital of the province, and began work there. 

During the Boxer movement all of the missionaries had 
to leave the interior, and the work was interrupted to some 
extent. But, as this tide of persecution and bloodshed was 
blocked before it reached the southern provinces of China, 
mission work was saved the fiery baptism by which it was 
inundated in the north. In 1901, after the missionaries had 
been allowed to return to their stations, three young men 
from America were added to the ranks of the mission. In 
1904, P'ingloh and Ulincheo were opened; in 1905, P'ing- 
nan; in 1906, Longcheo and Liucheo. As Mrs. Farmer's 
work was largely connected with the cities of P'ingloh and 
Liucheo, we shall tell more in detail of the entrance of the 
gospel into those places when we resume the narrative of 
her life. 

As we take a retrospective glance at the record of hard 
pioneer days, sickness, suffering, and the precious lives laid 
down for this dark province, the question arises, does it 
pay — is it worth the sacrifice? Then we take a look upon 
the bright side and see that Kuangsi province, which but 



64 Ada B e e s o n Farmer 

twenty years ago had not a single resident Protestant 
missionary in it, to-day has, in the Christian and Missionary 
Alliance mission alone — to say nothing of the flourishing 
and blessed work being done by the Southern Baptists, Eng- 
lish Wesleyan, and Church Missionary Societies — almost 
forty foreign missionaries, together with a staff of compe- 
tent Chinese preachers, Bible-women, teachers, and colpor- 
ters (many of whom were trained in our own schools at 
Wucheo) ; tons of Scripture and tracts distributed; eleven 
cities in the most important centers of the province opened 
to the gospel, also several out-stations; nice new chapels 
erected upon the larger stations; and, best of all, several 
hundreds of Chinese Christians who once worshiped wood 
and stone coming out boldly and allying themselves with 
the Christian church; besides, the great numbers of inquir- 
ers and the freedom with which we may now everywhere 
present the gospel. All this causes us to humbly fall upon 
our knees, and with eyes full of tears and hearts overflow- 
ing with gratitude, thank God that He ever counted us 
worthy to be put in trust with the gospel in this dark land; 
and we exclaim with His servants of old, "Not unto us, O 
Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory," and 
"Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the 
glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in 
the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, 
O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all." 

Before closing this chapter, and in order that the reader 
may know there is still "much land to be possessed," we 
submit the following statistics and appeal recently pub- 
lished in the South China Alliance Tidings. 

It is far from our desire to present the needs of this field to the 
depreciation of other fields, when all, God knows, are destitute enough. 
The following figures will speak for themselves with an eloquence 
and force of their own: 

1. The area of Kuangsi is about 77,000 square miles. 

2. Its population is variously estimated. According to one of the 
latest official reports, it is put at 8,000,000. 

3. There are 72 walled cities in Kuanesi. Of these 72 walled 
cities only nine have resident missionaries. This includes the stations 
of all missionary societies. Of the remaining 63 cities, only seven 



Ada Beeson Farmer 65 

have chapels in charge of native evangelists. This leaves 56 cities in 
the province of Kuangsi without any witness whatsoever of the gospel 
of salvation. While some of these cities have, comparatively speaking, 
a small population, yet many of them are cities of 50,000 to 60,000 
people, perhaps an average population of 30,000 inhabitants. 

4. The above does not include over 1,200 market-towns, some- 
times very large and important, and over 45,000 villages scattered 
throughout the province, all of which must have a witness of the 
gospel. 

A few years ago one of our missionaries walked through the prov- 
ince of Kuangsi, covering nearly 1,000 English miles and being on 
the road 72 days, without seeing one Christian or coming near one 
Gospel Hall! Last year (1910) another of our brethren traveling 
again about 1,000 English miles in this province, requiring ten weeks' 
time — over an entirely separate district, only a small part of which 
was contiguous to the above-mentioned territory — saw but one Chapel! 

Now, in surveying the whole province and summarizing the above 
facts, we are forced to the conclusion we have, up to the present time, 
attempted to evangelize but one-half of the area of the province, and 
that the whole northwest and western portions are still practically 
untouched. From the map herewith the crosses on which show the 
location of our stations — it will be seen that the whole half of the 
province northwest of the line drawn across it, is in total darkness 
and ignorance of the gospel. In the northwestern half of the province 
there are 27 walled cities, over 600 market-towns and over 17,000 
villages, and not one missionary or native worker in the field. In 
the southeastern part of the province there are 45 walled cities, over 
600 market-towns and over 28,000 villages; of these, only ten of 
the cities are occupied by missionaries, and less than a score of the 
market-towns and villages have native workers. 

The report of the Edinburgh Ecumenical Missionary Conference of 
last year states that the four needy provinces of the Chinese Empire 
are, Kansuh, tjinnan, Kweicheo and Kuangsi, and that apparently 
four-fifths of these four provinces are not only unreached but are likely 
to remain so, until missionaries are near enough to be accessible to 
the people. In view of all this, and the fact that the hearts of the 
people are at this time very open to hear and receive the message we 
bring, our souls are burdened with grief and we long to press out 
to these regions beyond. 



JESUS, I MY CROSS HAVE TAKEN 

Jesus, I my cross have taken, 

All to leave and follow thee; 
Naked, poor, despised, forsaken, 

Thou from hence my all shalt be. 
Perish every fond ambition, 

All I've sought, or hoped, or known; 
Yet how rich is my condition! 

God and heaven are still my own. 

Let the world despise and leave me; 

They have left my Saviour, too; 
Human hearts and looks deceive me — 

Thou art not, like them, untrue; 
And while thou shalt smile upon me, 

God of wisdom, love, and might, 
Foes may hate, and friends disown me; 

Show thy face and all is bright. 

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure; 

Come, disaster, scorn, and pain ; 
In thy service pain is pleasure; 

With thy favor loss is gain. 
I have called thee, Abba, Father, 

I have set my heart on thee; 
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather; 

All must work for good to me. 

Man may trouble and distress me; 

'Twill but drive me to thy breast; 
Life with trials hard may press me; 

Heaven will bring me sweeter rest. 
O, 'tis not in grief to harm me, 

While thy joy is left to me! 
O, 'twere not in joy to charm me, 

Were that joy unmixed with thee! 

Soul, then know thy full salvation ; 

Rise o'er sin, and fear and care; 
Joy to find in every station 

Something still to do or bear. 



68 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Think what Spirit dwells within thee; 

Think what Father's smiles are thine; 
Think that Jesus died to win thee; 

Child of heaven, canst thou repine? 

Haste thee on from grace to glory, 

Armed by faith and winged by prayer; 
Heaven's eternal days before thee, 

God's own hand shall guide thee there. 
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, 

Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days; 
Hope shall change to glad fruition, 

Faith to sight, and prayer to praise. 

Henry Francis Lyte. 




CHAPTER VII 

The First Two Years on the Field 

Yes, we need along life's pathway, 

Feet with patience shod; 
Faith to wait and not grow weary, 

Lives that love to plod. 

Simpson. 

And we know that all things work together for good to them 
that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose. — 
St. Paul. 

E now come to the beginning of that period 
of Mrs. Farmer's life which was so wholly 
consecrated to the service of God, and 
used by the Master to extend His king- 
dom in dark Kuangsi. Happily, she has 
left in her diaries and letters — from 
which we have already begun to quote in 
Chapter V, a record sufficiently full to enable us to place 
before our readers a well-ordered and connected history 
of her entire missionary career. These letters and diaries 
were not written with the thought that they would appear 
in print, for their contents were jotted down in an artless 
and simple style; but they are invaluable as an index to her 
inner life and character. As one reads them he is made con- 
scious of the fact that he is not reading the life of an or- 
dinary Christian, but a saint. The deepest spirit of prayer 
and communion with God breathes throughout the pages, 
and one is made to feel that he is treading upon holy 
ground. The same desire and longing for a holier and bet- 
ter life seizes the heart of the reader as he peruses the 
daily entries of her journal. One perceives the same saint- 
liness and fragrance of devotion as when reading the rec- 
ords of Madame Guyon, Hester Ann Rogers, and other 
saintly women, whose lives and writings have blessed the 
world. 



70 Ada Beeson Farmer 

The gospel of the grace of God in human lives, when 
allowed to have full sway, will ever produce the same beau- 
tiful flowers and glorious fruits of devotion, self-denial, and 
saintliness of character. The gospel of Jesus Christ ever 
evinces one of its divine credentials, in the fact that it is 
not restricted to any clime, time, or nation of people. Un- 
like the flowers and fruits of earth, which are dependent 
upon different latitudes and soils in order to flourish, the 
gospel seed has in it that quality of divine universality that 
causes it to thrive in any soil of the human heart that will 
meet the conditions for its reception. Other systems may 
meet some of the needs of a particular people, but the gos- 
pel meets every need of the whole world! The results are 
ever the same, whether it be sainthood of Paul's day, the 
Middle Ages, or the present. 

These few letters and diaries constitute the most prec- 
ious legacy which could have been left by my dear wife. As 
I read them my heart is made to continually lift itself in 
prayer and communion with God, and my soul is made to 
hunger and thirst after righteousness and to strive for the 
full attainment of those high ideals and aspirations which 
come to the soul in its best moments. 

The record also reveals that there were many temptations 
and obstacles thrown in her path, which she most victori- 
ously overcame; and it emphasizes anew the old truth, that 
the path from earth to heaven is not a smooth one and 
does not always lead by mossy beds of flowers, but that 
rugged mountains and burning deserts lie between the Chris- 
tian and the sublime heights of strong Christian character. 

We shall try as far as possible to let the record of this 
period be told in her own words; but, our lives and work 
having been such a unit it is difficult to avoid intruding self, 
especially where we are compelled to supply the thread of 
the narrative. 

The annual meeting of the South China Mission began 
the day after her arrival in Wucheo, which was the Sab- 
bath, and continued for a week. Her journal is largely a 
resume of the devotional exercises of that conference. At 
the close of her first Sabbath in China she writes, "I can 



Ada Beeson Farmer 71 

not tell the joy of my soul for really being in China." The 
conference was a busy time and she thoroughly enjoyed 
each session. Her deeply spiritual nature eagerly responded 
to the devotional exercises in which she took a part, and her 
clear mind did not fail to grasp firm hold of the various 
problems of mission polity and administration. 

When Mrs. Farmer came to China, the central receiving 
home at Wucheo, although in process of construction, had 
not been completed; consequently, not only during the busy 
conference days was she crowded into a small room with 
four or five others in a poorly built Chinese house remod- 
eled to some extent for the use of the mission, but even for 
some little time after conference, she had to live almost 
without privacy and convenience which are so much prized 
by Western people. She never complained; but joyfully 
began her language study and other duties incidental to a 
missionary's first year in a mission land. It was enough for 
her that Christ had chosen and sent her to be His mouth- 
piece to speak the words of life to the women of China, if 
He would only bless and use her for His glory. She re- 
alized that she came to China to be a soldier of the cross 
of Jesus Christ, and those first days of what may be called 
camp life were typical of the subsequent years of her mis- 
sionary career; for her love for Christ and her zeal to 
preach His gospel where it had not been heard caused her 
lot at times to be cast in any but comfortable circumstances. 
She was a true pioneer, and few missionary women have 
had to live under more trying conditions than she. But she 
was a true servant of Christ and well knew that happiness 
and success did not depend upon environment, but upon do- 
ing the will of God in His time and place. 

At the time of her arrival in China, she was one of the 
first women to be appointed to work among the Mandarin- 
speaking women of Kuangsi ; and, as previously said, the 
only station in that section was at Kweilin, the capital of the 
province, and was occupied by two young men. Since there 
was no opportunity to study the language among the Man- 
darin women, she resolutely and bravely began to do so 
at Wucheo, the dialect of which place is very dissimilar in 



72 Ada Beeson Farmer 

many respects to the Mandarin. It was a difficult and dis- 
couraging task, for while spending her time upon Mandarin 
sounds and tones she heard spoken about her nothing but 
Cantonese. Being persuaded that it was God's will for her 
to acquire the Mandarin in order that she might preach to 
the perishing women of central and northwest Kuangsi, she 
was nothing daunted but went to work diligently under the 
above-named adverse circumstances. 

[February 24.] Began study of the Chinese language. A real joy 
was given by the Father. The tones are queer and some of them 
difficult. 

The next day, visiting a fellow missionary, she had to 
pass the burial place of the Chinese, and there witnessed for 
the first time some of the sorrowful heathen rites, which 
are to be seen everywhere in that land, and the sight of 
which always fills the soul of a Christian with sadness. 

The wailing at the grave. My heart was made sad to see them 
and yet was made to rejoice that I know Him and am looking for His 
return. 

She was ever longing and thirsting for more of God; 
always seeking to know Him in a deeper degree. 

[February 27.] I am crucified with Christ — Gal. ii.20. A day of 
victory in Him. A real joy in the study of the language ; a deeper sur- 
render and crucifixion ; a real desire for God's best, for Christ to live 
out His life in me; to "in honor prefer one another;" to be more 
thoughtful of others, and to deal with the faults of Ada Beeson. 

[March 2.] Precious communion with Him before breakfast. 
Mai. iii:3; I Pet. i.6-7, was the message from God. Read Acts 1:6. 
The vision given by Him for greater things. Lord, make me like 
Thee — give me the courage of Peter, and the fulness of power. 

Although far away from home and loved ones, she never 
forgot them, but constantly brought them and their interests 
to the throne of grace. At the close of the entry for March 
4th, she says, "Looked to God for the revival at Meridian, 
Mississippi." 

[March 5.] Rom. viii.3. Lord, so fill my life with Christ, the 
Holy Spirit, that He in me will condemn sin in others. "Deeper yet, 
deeper yet." 

[March 6.] "I am the Lord, I change not." Mai. iii.6; Prov. 
ii.8; Deut. i.32-33. Lord, teach me my place. Teach me the dif- 




i, 3. Views of Wu< heo. 
2. The Central receivin< 



C. & M. A. at Wucheo. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 73 

ference between the joy of the Lord and the frivolity of man. 
A blessed time with Him in prayer and communion at the bottom 
of the hill at home. A heart-searching, a looking to Him for guidance 
about the boards. 

The reference to the boards in the preceding paragraph 
recalls another one of Mrs. Farmer's hard places, or tests, 
of the first two years, and it will be well to explain the ref- 
erence in order that the reader may have a clear concep- 
tion of the problem which confronted her almost as soon 
as she reached the field. 

At the time of her coming to China, she was supported 
by the Pentecostal Mission, the little band of Christian 
workers at Nashville, with whom she had been working 
after leaving Nyack, and who did much of their foreign 
mission work through the Christian and Missionary Alli- 
ance; that is, as they had as yet no independent foreign 
work of their own, they contributed mission funds through 
the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and assumed the 
support of several of the Christian and Missionary Alliance 
missionaries. But in a body of deeply consecrated people 
where the Spirit of God is allowed to have His way. He 
will soon be heard saying, as of old, at Antioch: "Separate 
me" (this or that one) "for the work whereunto I have 
called them." In a little while several young men and 
women felt the call of the dark heathen world and offered 
themselves for that service. 

In 1 90 1, W. A. Farmer, the author of this book, was the 
first missionary to be sent out by the Pentecostal Mission. 
He was appointed to South China to be supported by the 
Pentecostal Mission, and to be under the jurisdiction of 
the Christian and Missionary Alliance on the foreign field, 
since the former had not as yet organized a regular mis- 
sion board or opened independent work in that department 
of church activity. The result might have been foreseen, 
but it was not, until the missionary found himself trying to 
do what the Master said was impossible — that is to serve 
two masters at one time. It was inevitable that complica- 
tions regarding mission polity should arise which would 
compel him to either begin an independent work under the 
Pentecostal Mission, or resign his connection with them and 



74 Ada Beeson Farmer 

fully ally himself with the Christian and Missionary Alli- 
ance. Feeling that it was not God's will for him to begin 
a new mission, after much prayer and waiting upon the 
Lord, and with deep sorrow of heart because of the sev- 
erance of the precious relation that existed between himself 
and the brethren at Nashville, he, in less than a year after 
reaching the field, sent in his resignation to the Pentecostal 
Mission and became a full member of the Christian and Mis- 
sionary Alliance. Mrs. Farmer was the second missionary 
to be appointed by the Pentecostal Mission, and she sailed 
to the field just before the letter of resignation of W. A. 
Farmer reached Nashville. 

When the brethren at Nashville fully realized the situa- 
tion, they felt they should organize a mission board and 
carry on their work independently of the Christian and Mis- 
sionary Alliance and other already existing societies on the 
field. It was in this unhappy state of affairs that Mrs. Far- 
mer and another lady missionary who had been sent to the 
field with her, found themselves on reaching China. What 
were they to do? What did the Lord mean by all this? 
Whatever He meant, He would give them time to find out 
His will in the matter, so from conference till about the 
middle of April, many hours were spent in secret prayer 
endeavoring to know the mind of the Lord. The frequent 
allusions to it in her journal show that it was a matter of 
no small moment with her, and will also later show how 
the matter terminated. 

Mrs. Farmer always believed that God wanted His chil- 
dren to be true intercessors, and many of her prayers went 
up for the whole world. March 8, the morning lesson 
and prayers in the home being on the Jews, she says: "Keep 
me humble and in prayer for Israel." 

[March 9.] Blessed season in prayer. A burden on my heart 
for the Pentecostal Mission and Christian and Missionary Alliance 
board, so spent the morning in prayer and rest. 

[March 12.] "My grace is sufficient for thee." Blessed season 
of prayer for work and boards. 

[March 13.] We wrote to Brother B., for the Pentecostal 

Mission Board. Lord, Thy will be done. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 75 

She always enjoyed the "all day of prayer," observed 
once a month by the mission. This was especially true of 
March 14. 

A blessed "day of prayer." The missionaries all gathered together 
to pray for the needs of the work. The Lord was with us in power — 
very precious. A day to be remembered. 

Although not yet able to speak the language, she never- 
theless felt the need, duty, and privilege of praying for the 
lost about her. March 15, one little sentence among others 
shows the state of her mind: "A burden for souls." 

[March 16.] Nearly one hour of blessed communion with and 
prayer to God. I met the Lord. I Jno. II. 1 7. The blessed hope of 
His coming came to me so preciously. I shall be like Him. 

[March 17.] Precious communion with Him. A burden for the 
work and the world. "All things are yours, ye are Christ's and 
Christ is God's." Good day of study — promise for it — "We have 
the mind of Christ." Lord, help me appropriate His mind in 
everything. 

A letter written to her sister also gives a good picture of 
her occupation and feelings at this time. 

My time is pretty well occupied with six hours per day on the 
language and I take some time each day for my private Bible study 
and prayer. Then we walk every afternoon, which is the thing to 
do after study; but as it is now, we have no place to walk but over 
to the hill where the home is going up, and that takes all the after- 
noon after school hours. When we get on the hill, which we hope 
to do in two weeks, we will walk out on the hill where we can 
get fresh air and not have to walk so long. 

Well, I am so happy to be here for my blessed Master who has 
done so much for me! No one can know what a Chinese city is 
unless they come and see for themselves; and after you have seen 
one, you have little idea of life in China; for there are as many 
different customs as there are different cities. Of course, I have seen 
little of Chinese life, except that of the lower class, for the "long coat" 
men, as they are called — the merchants, students, and officers — we see 
little of ; and the high-class women are hardly ever seen outside of 
their homes except in closed chairs. The only way you can know 
anything about them is by visiting them in their homes. Into many 
places the missionary is not allowed to go, and then, many places 
where the women are hungry for the truth and invite the mission- 
aries — ladies of course — to visit their homes, the husband is often in 
the way, for he can do as he pleases with his wife. There is no law 



76 Ada Beeson Farmer 

against ill-treatment, or almost no law. Pray that God may overrule 
in some way and let these poor women have the gospel. And not 
for the women alone ; but that the men may see their sinful condition 
and the only Savior. Pray for our teacher. He is a heathen, a 
bright fellow, and is going to make a fine teacher; and, if he is 
saved, will make a fine preacher. I am claiming him for the Lord; 
and want you to also pray for a Mandarin-speaking woman who 
applied to teach me. I forgot to say that our teacher has been to 
all the services since we invited him and has asked Miss Prentice 
to visit the family. 

I suppose you know that Annie and I are studying the Mandarin 
language, for there was no women's work among the Mandarin- 
speaking Chinese women, so we were asked to take up that work. 
We hope some day to be pioneer workers among the Mandarin- 
speaking women. It is precious to see the hand of God in it all. 
Before I left home there came a conviction over me to study the 
Mandarin ; but I knew not why, and no reason was presented. I 
spoke to Annie about it and we prayed over it coming across the 
ocean. I committed it to Him whom I knew did know, and when 
conference was in session it was discussed. Mr. Hess sent for Annie 
and me and asked us to pray over the matter. We felt it was God's 
will, and I still believe it. I am so happy in the study of the lan- 
guage! Really, it is a great joy, and the presence of the Lord is 
so real to me. I am studying like a little child in the primary de- 
partment. Truly, I have to teach the teacher how to teach. I find 
that my primary methods can be used on me finely. I never thought 
when I was studying primary methods that I would use them on 
myself. But you truly have to become as "a little child" to get 
the Chinese language. It is a blessed experience for me in every 
way to be nothing and be taught. O, that I could be that way in 
things spiritual every time ! I do always want to be, and praise 
God for the lessons He is teaching me along this line. 

You can pass through the city from side to side, about three- 
quarters of a mile, and pass hundreds of people — and perhaps every- 
one is a heathen — and if they were do die would be lost forever; 
perhaps many of them have never so much as heard that there is 
a Savior. When I see and know this my heart aches, and I cry to 
God to enable us to gather out His bride from this place, and 
hasten our blessed Lord back to this sinful earth and put an end 
to sin, and rule in righteousness. And not only this, but if the church 
at home could see the great need here at least one-half of the Chris- 
tian ministers and workers would come to tell those who have never 
heard. I am learning some precious lessons these waiting days, and 
want to be used in the ministry of prayer for the salvation of souls. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 77 

We also submit the following letter because it contains 
much about the Chinese and their customs, etc., and their 
impression upon Mrs. Farmer. 

My Dear Marvin and Ethel : — I will write you both together, 
as Aunt Ada is very busy studying the language. You see I am 
in school studying the first things just as the little Chinese girl or 
boy would do. It is like learning your A, B, C's, or learning to read 
as the children do in the primary room in the college, except each 
pupil has a teacher, or rather each teacher has two pupils, and one 
studies or recites at a time. You should hear what funny sounds 
we make. It is not like studying any other language. I will send 
you my name in Chinese, rather my Chinese name, and you will find 
how to pronounce it just underneath. The top or first character 
is like the B in English and means gem or jewel, and the next means 
good, the third virtuous, so you see Aunt Ada has a good name, and 
she hopes to be a good girl while here. 

I was so glad to get your letters and enjoyed reading them while on 
the steamer out on the great ocean where we could not get any 
letters from anybody, and only see the few people on board. Yes, 
Marvin, I was seasick but was not in bed but one day, and I really 
could have gotten up that day but I wanted to be quiet, rest and spend 
much time in prayer to God, for there were many things I wanted to 
talk to the Father about and I wanted to praise Him for letting 
me go to tell the heathen about Jesus. I can not tell you how I 
felt, only those who have been seasick can know how one feels, but 
you don't feel like running and playing, nor do you feel like eating. 
Miss Goode and Mr. Zehr were not seasick, neither was Mr. Fee, 
very much. I suppose father has read my letters to you and you 
know all the places where we stopped, so I will begin to tell you about 
China. We reached Hongkong, and left the Peking, the large 
steamer and got on a little "Sampan" — row boat with a cover to 
it — with two little children about the size of you, Marvin, to row 
over where there were some boxes and three grown people and 
little Agnes. I am going to take a picture of one of these Chinese 
boats and send you some time, but it will be a long time getting 
there. Now, I will tell you just here that many of these Chinese 
live in these boats, cook, eat, and sleep right in them and know 
nothing else. I wish you could see their little pots with the rice 
cooking, and the tin cans with perhaps some vegetables, meat, salt, 
etc., in them. That part looks real cosy and nice, but the sad part 
is that each boat has its idol and altar for worship, and a place 
for burning incense. When I look at this it makes my heart ache, 
but all I can do is to pray that some day they may give up their 
idols and worship our God. It seems strange to have people around 
you talking and you can't understand one word. The servants in 
the house do not know one word of English, and we have great fun 



78 Ada Beeson Farmer 

trying to make them understand if the missionaries who speak Chinese 
are away. 

Since we came to Wucheo and had the conference we have begun 
to study the language. I can speak a few sentences in Chinese, and 
the first one I spoke to my teacher he was so pleased he smiled. I 
told him- in Chinese to write radicals, and he understood me. Pray 
for my teacher. He is a heathen and worships idols. He came to 
the service in the chapel last Sunday. I want him saved. He is 
a very good teacher, and seems to know better how to teach than 
most Chinese teachers. 

The streets here look more like halls than streets. They are 
about four to six feet wide, and often much of the six-feet-wide 
streets are taken up with signboards. Really, there is only room 
for two to .walk along on the street, and of course there are no 
sidewalks, consequently, we go down the street like sheep — one after 
the other so as to give room for others to pass. We, at home, go 
to the right while the Chinese go to the left. 

I wish you could see the dear little Chinese children. When I 
look at them, the children and women, I praise God for being born 
and reared in a Christian land by Christian parents. The mothers 
and older sisters carry the babies on their backs, strapped on like 
the Indians. Often the baby girls are killed, for they do not love 
their girls as they do their boys. Often they are engaged to a man 
they have never seen when they are no older than you are, Ethel. 
I saw a little girl just about Marvin's age, and hardly so large, 
who had been engaged to a man for so much money. The father 
was an opium eater, and had failed in business and wanted Miss 
Kennon of the Southern Baptist Mission to lend him some money and 
take his little girl, but when she told him if he would give up opium 
she would lend him the money he needed, he would not do it, but en- 
gaged the little girl for it and kept on smoking the opium. Doubtless 
he wanted the money to buy opium. Now I must not forget to tell 
you that this little girl is going to have to marry soon, for the father 
does not want to support her longer. There is a Chinaman living 
next door to us who has money and has bought a slave girl. Many 
times he beats her very severely, and Mr. Hess goes out and stops 
him. He does not like it very much while he is angry, but after 
he gets in a good humor he comes and thanks Mr. Hess for inter- 
fering. Aren't you glad your parents are not going to sell you? 
And that they love you and are not going to beat you? 

The heathen worship their idols by shooting off crackers, burning 
incense and prostrating themselves before the idols. This after- 
noon while we were walking the Chinese were shooting off fire- 
crackers and it made my heart ache to think how such worshiping — 
appeasing the evil spirits — could keep them from harming them. 
Pray for us that we may present Christ to these darkened souls, 
and that we may soon acquire the language, and tell them of our 



Ada Beeson Farmer 79 

true and living God and Jesus Christ the Savior of mankind, and 
that souls may be saved. The school opens to-morrow for the Bible 
women and girls. Miss Campbell is going to teach them, rather 
is going to teach the women, and a Chinese woman is going to teach 
the children. I may help arrange to give the children work, teach 
them to do some things such as you do in the kindergarten at 
home, only associate it with the Bible and spiritual teaching. Pray 
for the little girls in this school and for the little boys in the other. 

I am finishing this letter on Wednesday night, and the Chinese 
are having prayer-meeting just under us. I can't go down, for I 
could not understand what they say. I have learned a few sen- 
tences. I had to begin like a child learning to talk. 

You let papa and mamma read this letter, also tell the girls how 
we are. I will write them as soon as I can. There are five girls 
in our room and no place to get quiet to write and study, as we 
are not all doing the same things at the same time. I forgot to tell 
you how the Chinese sleep. Their beds are boards, called bed- 
boards, put up on a scaffold, and some have only a blanket on that 
to sleep on, while others have comforts. They have more rice than 
anything else, that is, the common people. The wealthy have more 
and their meals are very expensive. We have had only one Chinese 
meal, and I ate with chop-sticks. You should have seen me. I 
prefer our food and to eat with knives, forks and spoons. Give 
my love to papa, mamma, and Ralph, also to all the girls. Write 
often and tell papa and mamma to write. I have not heard from 
them since I left San Francisco. I pray for you every day, that you 
may be good and live for Jesus. Your devoted, 

Aunt Ada. 

[March 19.] "He who spared not his own son . . . will he 
not freely give us all things ?" A precious time in the Lord. Claimed 
from Him settlement of the boards according to His will ; money for 
receiving home at Wucheo ; Kweilin women's work ; Mandarin Bible 
woman and teacher. 

Mrs. Farmer was skilled in the use of her needle, and 
her diary, especially at this period, is full of notices of 
cutting and making garments for other members of the mis- 
sion. She was a veritable Dorcas. She could not bear to 
be idle and when she was not studying, praying, or sewing, 
she was busily writing letters to her loved ones and circle 
of friends who were so blessed by her godly correspondence. 
One of her sisters said to us a few days ago: "I could never 
bear to burn Ada's letters, for they were too sacred and full 
of good things." She considered letter-writing a ministry 
for the Lord, and she was faithful in the discharge of this 



80 Ada Beeson Farmer 

pleasure until her tired, weak hands could no longer hold 
the pen; and even then, she lay upon her sick bed and dic- 
tated to those who would write for her. 

Her life, like that of all godly men and women, was not 
without temptation, often subtle and keen, and her sensitive 
spiritual nature felt it. But she knew where to go for 
strength and help. It was her daily habit to look to God 
for some particular message from His word to her heart, 
hence, we find almost every entry in her journal begins with 
some Scripture promise. She always began the day with 
private prayer and Bible study. She would not let other 
things crowd out the hour of prayer. She was faithful to 
God, and He in turn was faithful in blessing her. 

[March 22.] "I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which 
I have committed unto him against that day." A day of testing 
and trial. The devil tempted in little mean things. Praise God for 
Christ! 

[March 24.] I Cor. x.26; Luke xv.31 — Promise for the home. 
A heart-searching time before God. Ex. xxxi.3, was given me. On 
it I claimed power for music, typewriting, and all I need to make 
me useful for His service. 

The above reference to trusting God for His Spirit to fill 
her with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to acquire 
music, and ability to become skilled in typewriting was so 
characteristic of her. Wherever she saw a lack in her life, 
no matter of what nature, she felt that God would help 
her to measure up to that need, especially when it meant 
making her more useful for Him and His service. 

[March 26.] The need of the home a great burden upon Mr. 
Hess. He called for an hour of prayer. Precious time in waiting, 
and blessed oneness in having the work continue ; and He would 
send the means. I Cor. iii.21, 23; Rom. viii.32 ; I Cor. x.26; Luke 
xv.31 were given again for the home, and such sweet assurance that 
He would supply according to Phil, iv.19. 

[March 27.] Finished Acts. Praise God for what He showed 
me of the power of the Spirit in Acts. Lord, take us back to Apostol- 
ic power! 

[March 28.] Reviewed Acts during "quiet hour." Had a prec- 
ious time of prayer. 

[March 29.] I Cor. xv. Miss Rutherford led. "Looking for 
and hastening to the coming of our blessed Lord." Precious time 



Ada Beeson Farmer 8i 

with the Lord, and a real burden for the Chinese Christians to 

receive the Holy Spirit. Sewed on 's dress and finished it for 

her to wear to Mrs. Macdonald's. Went to Mrs. Macdonald's to 
meet Mr. and Mrs. Byrde. Found them to be such dear children 
of God. 

[March 30. Easter Sunday.] A precious quiet day with Him. 
Began I Samuel in Bible study. Had a real heart-searching time 
alone, and burden of prayer. Looked to God to take out of my 
life three things: 1. Nervousness with things that offend my taste 
and finer nature. 2. To say nothing when my opinions or plans 
are crossed by any one. 3. Give me real joy in doing things for 
people who do not appreciate them, but complain. 

[April I.] Teacher came and I took Lesson III in Primer; 
counted to one hundred, and translated part of the page. Went 
down to Girls' School to hear students "back the book" for Miss 
Campbell. Learned some precious lessons from Mrs. Ts'ai, washer- 
woman and others. Keep me true to God and make use of my 
moments for God. 

The Chinese quarters of the new receiving home had now 
been about completed and the new missionaries who had 
been so crowded in the little house in the city, prepared to 
move to the hill across the river where they could be more 
comfortable and have more healthful quarters. 

[April 2.] Packed for moving to the hill. Studied the Word 
and had a precious time. Mr. Hess received telegram, sent March 
26 — day we prayed especially for building — for $1,010.00 gold for 
the home. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow!" Phil, iv.19, 
made real once more. Lord, help me to take more of Thy riches 
for Thy glory. 

These first days of April were spent largely in mov- 
ing to the hill and getting things nicely arranged. April 
6th was the first Sabbath on the hill. As the place is cov- 
ered with Chinese graves, she was interested in watching 
the people come and go, worshiping at the tombs. 

The Chinese worshiping their ancestors interesting, but exceed- 
ingly sad. My heart ached for them. A day of quiet and rest with 
the Lord. 

Although not a strong woman, yet at times Mrs. Farmer 
would set apart a season for fasting and prayer. 

[April 9.] "Fear not, for I have redeemed thee." Had precious 
communion ... A real heart-search — fasted and prayed. 



82 Ada Beeson Farmer 

On the ioth and nth of April she writes that she is 
greatly burdened in prayer concerning the settlement of 
affairs by the two mission boards, and on the 12th, she and 
Miss Goode received a cablegram from the Pentecostal 
Mission telling them to go to Canton and study. In other 
words, to no longer consider themselves under the guid- 
ance of the Christian and Missionary Alliance board. She 
writes : 

Telegram came from Nashville. Annie and I waited much upon 
the Lord. He gave great victory in heart but no clear leading. 
Wait, do not answer now. Mr. Hess said not a word to us ; a 
constant waiting to hear Him speak. (The next day being the 
Sabbath, she had an unusually good opportunity for quiet and prayer 
and so the journal reads) : "He that willeth to know shall know. 
I will guide thee with mine eye." A day spent waiting upon God. 
The Lord took me into a deeper death to everything and showed 
me the responsible place He had given me. He did not let me 
resign either, but showed me to stand still with the Christian and 
Missionary Alliance. 

She and her fellow missionary sent the following cable- 
gram to the Pentecostal Mission. "Remaining with the Al- 
liance, writing." They did not mean this to be taken as an 
absolute resignation from the Pentecostal Mission, for 
they still hoped that some satisfactory agreement could be 
devised whereby the two boards might continue affiliated as 
before. Being two single women, alone, and without the 
language as yet, they did not feel that God would have 
them go to Canton to live and plod along without the fel- 
lowship and help of other missionaries, which is so inval- 
uable at all times on the foreign field, and especially so dur- 
ing the earlier years of one's missionary life. 

[April 14.] Awoke with burden for boards. Still at rest about 
leading. My heart much in prayer for Nashville people and board. 

[April 15.] "Their redeemer is strong. My hand is not shortened." 

Helped Mrs. sew. The Lord blessedly touched my body, — took 

away all the pain and enabled me to sew. 

[April 17.] Sewed all the morning for Mrs. . Made 's 

blue cap ; fixed Mrs. 's gray dress. Teacher came in afternoon. 

Made no progress. 

The difference of opinion of the two mission boards, re- 
garding certain features of mission polity could not be sat- 



Ada Beeson Farmer 83 

isfactorily adjusted, and the only thing to do was to sever 
their relationship from one of the two missions. Both la- 
dies felt that since 'the two missions were so one in their 
doctrinal views and methods of work, there was no neces- 
sity for establishing a new society on the field. If a multi- 
plicity of denominations is not desirable in the home land, 
far less is it on the mission field. Thank God that denomi- 
national fences are not built quite as high on the mission 
field is at home, and the trend is toward greater fellowship 
and harmony of all evangelical societies in many places. 
Again, the establishment of a new mission meant an unnec- 
essary outlay of men and money, besides entailing upon 
the new missionaries the toilsome task of passing through 
that stage of learning lessons and making blunders which 
an older mission had already passed. The need of advice, 
fellowship and help from fellow missionaries was also felt. 
And inasmuch as the Christian and Missionary Alliance mis- 
sion seemed to embody all that the Pentecostal Mission de- 
sired to accomplish if they established a foreign work of 
their own, a letter of complete resignation was soon for- 
warded to Nashville. 

We feel that it should be said here that the previous 
resignation of W. A. Farmer, and later that of Mrs. Far- 
mer, cost them both no little amount of sorrow and tears, 
and was done only after much prayer, fasting, and long 
waiting upon the Lord. In the faithful little band at Nash- 
ville, they both had some of the best and truest friends that 
they had ever known. They were brethren and sisters in the 
Lord who had befriended them in times of temporal need, 
to say nothing of the great spiritual help and stay they had 
been at the time when the call of God came to forsake all 
and follow Him to China. Both by prayer and means they 
had made it possible for one of them to take an extra course 
of training at the Missionary Training School, and also to 
get to the mission field. How much Mrs. Farmer was be- 
loved by this coterie of friends is shown by the high trib- 
ute paid to her in an article in Living Water, written by 
Reverend J. O. McClurkan after her death. 



84 Ada Beeson Farmer 

As one looks down the path of life nothing causes the 
heart to sorrow so as much as the separations all along the 
way; but the deep, close walk with God is a separated life. 
Separated from native land; separated from loved ones; 
separated, it may be, from a circle of beloved friends, as in 
the case above; and sometimes, yea, often, God takes the 
loving husband or wife to Himself, and the soul is left 
separated in a deeper sense than ever before. Oh, how 
the heart aches and how lonely life seems! But it is all 
a part of life's mystery, pain, suffering, and discipline, and 
we know it must be in the end "yield the peaceable fruits of 
righteousness unto them who are exercised thereby." 

But not to-day, then be content, poor heart ; 

God's plans like lilies pure and white unfold ; 
We must not tear the close-shut leaves apart ; 

Time will reveal the calyxes of gold. 
And if through patient toil we reach the land 

Where tired feet with sandals loose may rest, 
When we shall clearly know and understand, 

I think that we shall say that, "God knew best." 

A letter to her loved ones at home, dated May ist, tells 
of how fully she occupied the passing moments. While 
there would be interruptions, yet she tried to adhere to 
some settled program each day in order to accomplish the 
more. Her diary at this period shows that she spent much 
time in sewing and doing things for others. 

I find two letters of yours unanswered, but I find as little time 
here as in the home land. When I tell you how my time is spent 
each day you will not wonder. 

Rising bell at six a. m. ; breakfast at seven ; have that hour for 
quiet before God, and to dress. I leave the dressing for last, and 
usually take about twenty minutes for my bath and to dress. I had 
rather rush with my dressing than praying. Morning prayers in 
the home about seven forty-five or eight; study Bible from then 
till nine, and sometimes ten; study with teacher from ten-thirty till 
twelve; dinner at twelve; study two to three-thirty; study with 
teacher from three-thirty to five; after that we go for a walk, or to 
see some of the other missionaries; supper at six-thirty; write letters 
and read after supper; lights out at ten. So, you see, there is little 
time to play. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 85 

Mrs. Farmer was systematic almost to a fault, and all 
through life it mattered not what she had to do, it had to 
be done with system and order. 

I praise God for this system and His blessed presence and guidance. 
I can't tell you how happy I am to be here in this dark land to tell 
them of our blessed Savior. Many new experiences have come to 
me and I know Him better for them. I am learning how to lean 
upon Him alone for everything. It made me feel so little and 
humble when I read your letter stating how the dear friends in 
Arcadia contributed to my support. May the dear Lord make it 
as great a blessing to them as it has been to me. Oh, that we 
would not rob God of what He should have — our all! 

The longer I am here the more I praise God for letting me come 
to these dear Chinese women who worship idols and their dead 
ancestors, to tell them about our precious Savior that we love so 
much. While I can not talk to them this year, I believe He will 
give me souls anyway. He has laid a great burden of prayer upon 
my heart for them and for the work. The Lord gave me money 
enough during the summer, for the work in China, to support a 
preacher. I had looked to Him for that amount above my outfit and 
He gave it. He has sent in the full amount for the home. While 
we were praying for the money, the day Mr. Hess called us together 
for that purpose, the dear Lord spoke to a woman in America to 
send $1,010.00. But I must tell you the part I had in it. One 
day, about three days before Mr. Hess called us together to pray 
for the money, the Lord laid quite a burden upon my heart for the 
home, and while praying alone and waiting upon Him, He gave 
me, 'All things are yours, ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." Also, 
Rom. viii.30, so I took several things from Him and wrote them in 
my diary, excepting the home. That was a pretty big thing I 
thought, but praise God, not too big for Him! I felt condemned 
that I did not write "Home" in my diary, and saw the devil was 
trying to cheat me out of it, so I went and put "Home" in, and 
such a joy and praise came into my heart that it would be done that 
when the day came to pray I had more praise than petition. It 
has been such a blessing to me, for which I praise Him. 

My Bible is growing so much more real to me as I study the 
New Testament here on the mission field. There is so much more 
similarity than at home. Here we see more of the power manifested 
that we do not see at home, and He has put such a longing in my 
heart that I may be so yielded to Him that He may do the "greater 
works" through me and all the dear missionaries here in South 
China. Pray for us that we may have a Pentecostal revival. 



86 Ada Beeson Farmer 

[May 7.] Awoke early in prayer. Spoke to as I should 

not. Fasted and prayed. A day of prayer, communion, and victory 
in Him. 

[May 10.] Studied with the teacher in the morning. I have 
been learning something of the power of a personal devil. Trimmed 

Mrs. 's hat, cut a pattern for , made flannel belt. Prayed 

with Ta Sao for her baby. 

[May 11.] "The battle is not yours, but God's." A blessed Bible- 
study. Prayer, and waiting before Him. After seeing the power 
of the devil, He showed me the power of the living God. II 
Cor. ii.14. 

[May 13.] 'All power is given unto me." Letter from T'enghsien. 
The woman we prayed for blessedly healed. 

[May 16.] A servant of Jesus. Jno. xv.15. Rather sleepy in 
morning, but would not give way. 

[May 17.] Miss spent the day here. I sewed and made 

her waist. I fixed waists for . Sewed some after supper. 

Much thought and prayer of Meridian. One year ago to-night I 
spoke on China to the girls. May the dear Lord call some out of 
that school for the foreign field. 

[May 18.] A precious time in prayer and fasting before Him. 

[May 20.] Up at five-thirty, prayer and heart-searching, and 
found where I could have preferred " 

There is still an occasional reference to the mission 
boards, as it takes such a long time to write to America and 
get an answer. All the time the question was pending she 
was most faithful in prayer. 

[June 3.] "Ye are all the children of light and the children 
of the day. Awoke with a great burden for the boards. Tried 
to study, but heart almost broke when the question of the boards 
would come to mind ; had to stop studying and pray about it, but 
little rest came. A great burden. 

[June 6.] "I will rest in his love." A precious study of the 
Bible and waiting upon Him before the prayer-meeting. A vision 
of taking hold of God with the heart, and not let the mind and 
ideas of others lead, and the "greater works" being done through us. 

The following is an extract from a letter written to her 
parents about this time. 

"I am glad, mother, you have your pretty chickens and nice con- 
venient house for them. Mrs. Hess has some chickens since we are 
on the hill. I tell her they are quite musical, for they get into the 



Ada Beeson Farmer 87 

trunk room, which is just under my room, and cackle. They are 
Chinese chickens and understand Chinese calling better than Eng- 
lish, and they do not like foreign food like we eat. She has to 
get rice in the husk for them. One evening while we were at 
supper, one hen flew up in the window and Mrs. Hess had some 
one to catch her; then the second one flew up. I found out that 
they did it to be caught and put to bed. You see, the Chinese 
chickens are kept in the house at night, as they have nowhere else 
to keep them, and that is their custom to catch them and put them 
to bed. You haven't yours that well trained, even if they are 
finer ones. 

I do praise the dear Lord for the way He has helped me with 
the Chinese language. There have been so many things to hinder 
my study, but notwithstanding, I can speak a little and can under- 
stand some when I hear the Mandarin. 

I must tell you one other thing I am doing — studying music — 
rather, practicing some every day. In about three weeks I have learned 
six pieces on the organ and three on the auto-harp. I was feeling 
the need of music, that is, of being able to play hymns for the 
Chinese. While I was feeling that way and praying over it, the 
dear Lord brought this passage to me, "I have rilled him (you) 
with the Spirit of God in wisdom and in understanding; and in 
knowledge and in all manner of workmanship." Ex. xxxi.3. I then 
had faith to try. So I stepped out and began to practice, and God 
has wonderfully helped me, for which I praise Him. It is for 
Him I am doing it, praise His dear name! 

There are many questions and problems and many burdens of the 
work to bear, but what joy of the Lord He gives. We are needed 
so much more here than in the home land, where the ministers are 
treading upon one another's toes, and squabbling over little differ- 
ences, while the people all over the heathen world, as well as in the 
home land, are falling into Christless graves. How we need workers 
all over this great empire! 

The reference in Mrs. Farmer's letter to the chickens and 
the Chinese custom of putting them to bed, recalls a night 
we once spent at a Chinese inn, where the old lady of the 
place caught all her chickens and put them under our bed 
for the night. Although worn and tired from a hard day of 
walking, preaching, and distributing Scriptures, we had to 
endure the vociferous racket caused by the crowing of the 
cocks at the different hours of the night. It quite often 
happens, too, in such a case, that one's room is separated 
only by loose boards from the room in which are installed 
the pigs and cows, so that, in addition to the shrill calls of 



88 Ada Beeson Farmer 

the chanticleers, there is the "Sweet breath of the kine," of 
which the poets write, to help soothe ( ?) one's tired nerves. 
It is also quite likely that several of the guests are opium 
smokers, who love to lie smoking and talking until after 
midnight. As you are the chief topic of conversation, you 
can not sleep for desiring to see yourself as others see you. 
Generally, the inn is tightly closed, so that practically no 
fresh air can come in; and what with cows, pigs, chickens, 
opium, tobacco, salt fish, burning incense, smoke from the 
fire, and many other smells and sounds too numerous to 
mention, it is a night never to be forgotten. If ever a mis- 
sionary deserves pity, (which is very seldom), it is on one 
of these nights when he lays his weary body down on the 
hard bed-boards, with the chickens beneath and all the 
above-described accompaniments about him, and tries, — I 
say tries, — to get a little sleep and rest. When the doors are 
opened in the early morning and the fresh air rushes in, it 
is like a breath from heaven. 

[June 19.] "He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation 
of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him 
in love." Much prayer and waiting upon God a great part of the 
day. 

[June 22.] "He that willeth to know shall know." Precious time 
in fasting and prayer. Hebrews, vii. Spent a great part of the 
day waiting upon Him. 

[June 24.] We called upon poor Miss . How I praise God 

for salvation and something to live for! 

[July 14.] Awoke with such a burden of prayer for Chinese 
women. Dreamed I was preaching. What joy! 

In a letter a few paragraphs above, Mrs. Farmer speaks 
of there having been "so many things to hinder" in the lan- 
guage study during the few months she had been in China. 
At the time she wrote those lines she little realized that 
a still greater hindrance was soon to be thrust before her. 
Her journal entries for the early days of July speak fre- 
quently of the rising of the river. Wucheo is situated at 
the junction of two rivers, and is annually subjected to an 
inundation, which in the year of 1902, was very severe. 

The wife of one of the members of the Imperial Customs' 
staff, became ill with a most distressing case of typhoid 



Ada Beeson Farmer 89 

fever, and as she was living in a low part of the city and 
on the bank of the river, the rapidly rising water was any- 
thing but reassuring. The Christian and Missionary Alli- 
ance home on one of the nicest elevations overlooking the 
city, appealed to the family as a place of refuge, and they 

requested that Mrs. be allowed to be moved to the 

hill. As we have noticed before, the main building of the 
home was under construction, and the members of the mis- 
sion were crowded into the recently completed servants' 
quarters of the home. Moreover, three of the missionaries 
were studying the language. How could they take another 
one in, especially as the person had typhoid fever, and 
would be, notwithstanding the fact of having a trained nurse 
and physician in attendance, an extra care, in many ways, 
to the missionaries? Realizing the need of the patient for 
a better place, and wishing to show the love of Christ to 
all who need that love and kindness, the missionaries con- 
sented to have Mrs. moved to the hill. 

It fell to the lot of Mrs. Farmer and two other ladies to 
assist the nurse in the sick-room. The service was most 
gladly given, but it meant much self-denial, discomfort, and 
interrupted language study, as there would be the loss of 
sleep at night and consequent lack of strength for the good 
mental work required in the study of Chinese. 

There are few lives that more beautffully exemplify the 
principle that missionaries are called, not only to preach 
the gospel in so many words, but to do all kinds of things 
for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ, than Mrs. 
Farmer's. Whenever it was necessary to serve Christ in 
some other way than by preaching, house-to-house visita- 
tion, etc., she gladly accepted it as His appointment for her, 
and went about it with a heart full of love and face shin- 
ing with happiness, actuated with the thought that it was 
service for Christ. She would never shirk unpleasant re- 
sponsibility or delegate it to others, but with a whole-heart- 
edness, which was most inspiring and praiseworthy, applied 
herself to the duty of the hour. 

For three weeks there is no record of anything in her 
diary. Under August 12, we find: 



90 Ada Beeson Farmer 

On duty in the sick-room from four a. m. — 1 1. Had a good 
time with the Word of God — read Philippians. Felt condemned 
over foolish talking. Lord, put a seal on my lips. 

For about three months Mrs. was sick with typhoid 

fever, and in addition, several members of the mission 
were also sick with various complaints incidental to the hot 

days of summer in South China. While Mrs. was 

critically ill, Mrs. Hess, the wife of the superintendent of 
the mission, was taken sick, and, after lingering a few days, 
passed away. This was a great blow to the mission and hard 
to bear, for in her death the mission lost one of its most 
saintly women and best workers. Lovingly and unselfishly 
she had laid down her life for the Chinese and all who came 
within her reach. Her missionary life, like that of Mrs. 
Farmer's, was short, but so filled with God and good deeds 
that all who knew her had cause to thank God for the privi- 
lege of having been in her presence, and the recipients of 
her loving, Christlike, ministry. Truly, her memory is 
blessed. 

Those days were days that tried heart and faith. It was 
a season of trial and testing, which comes, now and then, to 
the missionary in the foreign field. A season fraught with 
sadness, temptation, and trial, which either draws him closer 
to God by the triumph of faith and patience, or results in 
inglorious failure because the soul gives way to discourage- 
ment and despair. It was a time when all were "pressed 
to the utmost." 

Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length; 
Pressed so intensely, it seems beyond strength; 
Pressed in the body, and pressed in the soul, 
Pressed in the mind, till the dark surges roll. 
Pressure by foes, and a pressure by friends, 
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends. 

Pressed into knowing no helper, but God ; 
Pressed into loving the staff and the rod ; 
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings; 
Pressed into faith for impossible things; 
Pressed into living a life in the Lord ; 
Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 91 

[August 14.] Studied very little in the morning. The nurse, 

Mrs. , left. Felt condemned over too much light talking, and 

too much discussing and making of dress. Thy will be done. 

[August 14.] Slept in room with Mrs. . Precious time 

waiting upon God. "The joy of the Lord is your strength." A 
trial of good being evil spoken of. Lord, make me more like Thyself. 

[August 24.] A day of blessing to my own soul. I read Revela- 
tion and Daniel, and feasted upon His Word. 

[August 25.] Annie watched with Mrs. . She grew worse. 

I could not study for such a burden of prayer for her, yet I did 
not know she was worse. The Lord spoke to several of us during 
the day. At six p. m. she was very bad; sent for Doctor Macdonald, 
and he pronounced it the crisis. We gathered together for prayer 
at dark, and the Lord gave me, "I will do a new thing. Now it 
shall spring forth." 

[August 29.] Sat with Mrs. last night. She had a very 

good night. I had a test in body; studied none in morning. Mrs. 
C has breakbone fever. Mrs. D had fever, but God de- 
livered. Lord, help me get the language! 

[August 31.] Fasted and prayed; had a quiet time. Brother 
Hess sick in bed. 

[September I.] Brother Hess very sick all night. Studied with 
the teacher. A day of victory. Sick, retired early. "My soul, 
wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him." 

[September 2.] The Lord preciously met me and healed my body. 
Slept the greater part of the morning. Studied a little. Had a 
quiet time in prayer, — heart-searching. Praise God for victory! 

[September 5.] "All day of prayer." A precious day of waiting 
upon God in prayer for the work. Brother Hess able to be present ; 
all well enough to be present. While praying for $4,000.00 for 
building premises in South China, the dear Lord gave me, "All 
things are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." 

[September 6.] Afternoon read "Eminent Missionary Women," 
and my heart was thrilled more and more to live only for God and 
win souls for Him in this dark land of China. 

[September 7.] Slept till seven a. m., then spent some time in 
fasting and prayer. A blessed time during the morning. There 
was no one in the p'ang, (a bamboo mat shed used temporarily for 
sleeping quarters while they were so crowded), but the Lord and 
myself. My heart was refreshed, and how I praised God for this 
quiet! 

[September 8.] A fine day of study. The first in three months, 
and how I praise God for it! This was a day of victory in Him. 
All the glory and praise to Him! 



92 Ada Beeson Farmer 

[September 13.] Spent some time in waiting upon God about wear- 
ing Chinese dress. 

[September 15.] Up early in prayer. Burden of prayer for Mrs. 
Hess and all. Went straight back from family prayers to pray. 
Could not study. Spent the greater part of the morning praying and 
with the Word. Prepared to study in the afternoon, but could not, 
so put it up and went to prayer. Poured out my soul before God. 
All left the p'ang and I had a real heart-searching and waiting 
upon God. The Lord gave me Eph. iii.20; Gen. iii.25 ; Phil, ii.9-10. 
Boy came for me to pray with Mrs. Hess. She felt her time to 
go had come. The Lord knew why I was burdened. 

[September 17.] Studied with the teacher from eleven to twelve 
Mark iv. Spoke to him all I could about the kingdom of God, and 
believing with the heart. 

The next four or five days were very sad and trying ones. 
Mrs. Hess gradually grew worse and passed away, Sep- 
tember 22, a little after midnight. Mrs. Farmer was pres- 
ent and helped to dress and prepare the body for burial. 
The strain upon her was very great and she felt the effects 
of it. 

[September 23.] I sat with Mrs. from ten p. m. So tired 

and nervous, but God graciously met and delivered. 

[October 1.] Came near having a chill this morning, but God 
delivered. 

[October 4.] Went over to help sew Lord, keep me from 

being sarcastic. 

[October 6.] Awoke with headache. Job xlii.2; Matt, xxviii.18. 

[October 11.] Slept little. In much prayer to know His mind 
about matters. 

[October 14.] Mrs. left for home, six-thirty a. m. 

The lady referred to in the last quotation was the ty- 
phoid patient who had become convalescent enough to be 
removed to her home. After the long seige of illness, 
death and many other trying circumstances, it was thought 
best for all who were not well, and who had shared the 
burden of nursing, to go to Macao for a few weeks' rest. 
Although it was late in the season for vacation, the hot days 
of August and September having passed, yet the rest af- 
forded was like the sweet refreshment which comes at night 



Ada Beeson Farmer 93 

after a day of toil and sadness. Mrs. Farmer with a party 
of missionaries left Wucheo for Macao October 22. 

Up at five a. m. Finished packing for trip to Macao. I had a 
real rest in the Lord; blessed communion and fellowship all day. 
How blessed to be in quiet communion all day! 

About a month was spent in Macao, and as the party was 
a congenial one the days sped only too quickly. Plenty of 
sleep and rest, light exercise, such as walking, surf-bathing, 
etc., study of God's word, and prayer filled up the time. 
This vacation was greatly enjoyed by Mrs. Farmer, for 
more than one cause contributed to its happiness; and not 
least of the many, was the presence of W. A. Farmer, who 
formed one of the party. Their attachment for each other 
had begun soon after her arrival on the field, and it was 
during these days at Macao that the plans for her marriage 
to him a year later, were matured. 

Since, for personal and other reasons, we have not up 
to this time given her diary references to this matter, yet 
that we may have a full view of her life and a true estimate 
of her character, we feel enough should be told to show how 
she contemplated this step. 

She believed that under no conditions whatever, should 
believers and unbelievers be yoked together in marriage. 
To her mind the Scriptures were plain enough on this point. 
All missionaries well know it becomes indeed a very serious 
question when a heathen man wants to marry one of the 
Christian girls or women of the mission. Mrs. Farmer be- 
lieved that it should never be permitted, and her clear force- 
ful reasons are well given in an article on this subject, pub- 
lished a few years ago in, Woman's Work in the Far East 
What she taught the new converts in China, she consistently 
exemplified in her own practice. She had ever said that 
she would not marry a man who was not a thoroughly con- 
secrated Christian, and after her call to the foreign field, 
determined never to unite herself in marriage to any one 
who was not a missionary. 

In passing, we would like to remark, that the importance 
of this principle can not be too much insisted upon. Almost 
any missionary who has been upon the field any length of 



94 Ada Beeson Farmer 

time will bear witness to the sad failures which in many- 
cases have been made by lady missionaries marrying a man 
whose life's vocation lay in some other direction. The 
strong effort made to carry on some kind of mission work 
with an unsympathetic partner in life generally ends in the 
abandonment of it altogether; and what in the beginning, 
promised to be a gloriously fruitful and happy life, filled 
with service for God and man, is passed in compulsory sel- 
fishness, remorse, and regret. 

As the question of love and marriage is such a tremen- 
dous factor in life, and is fraught with so much blessing or 
woe, we can not too strongly urge, not only missionaries on 
the field, but also candidates for the service, to carefully con- 
sider what they do. "Ye have not chosen me, but I have 
chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring 
forth fruit. If any man come to me and hate not his 
father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren 
and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he can not be my 
disciple. And no man taketh this honor unto himself but 
he that is called of God." In the face of such Scriptures, 
one who has what Terstegen calls 

The ordination of the pierced hands. 

had well beware of making any alliance which would in the 
least degree be incompatible with the carrying out of God's 
will and plans for life. 

Mrs. Farmer considered this step from the spiritual, so- 
cial, mental, and practical, as well as the happy and romantic 
point of view. A nature like hers could love with all the 
intensity of which a woman is capable, but at the same time, 
she wanted to know God's will, and have His smile of ap- 
proval. Besides many other hours of prayer, the night be- 
fore she gave her final consent, and made the announcement 
of her engagement, was spent in prayer in reference to the 
matter. While we do not care to give the details of this 
part of her life, yet we do desire to quote an extract or two 
from some letters written to her loved ones at home, and 
but recently given to the writer. To her parents she writes: 

I have been awaiting a letter from you stating your opinion in 
regard to our love for each other with the expectation of marriage. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 95 

Since it is so long hearing, and the conference convenes so soon, 
October 13, we may enter into an engagement and have it an- 
nounced. I know you have left me with God in the matter, as you 
have always done. ... I am more and more convinced that it is 
God's will and plan for our lives, and that the best missionary work 
can be done in China by a married couple, rather than single men 
and women. And besides all this, God has permitted us to love each 
other, and Mr. Farmer is the only man I have ever loved. I praise 
God for keeping me from marrying and remaining in the home land. 

Now, you may think me foolish to write you as I have, as we 
children seldom speak to you in this way, but I have felt, since 
being so far away from home, and there being no other way of com- 
munication, you both should know something of how things stand. 
I write it to both. Daughters usually confide these things to the 
mother, but I write to both. I am sure you can risk me with him 
and God. I hope to hear from you in reply to my first letter in 
regard to this before conference, for it will be much better to have 
our engagement announced then, so that the committee may know 
what action to take in regard to property, distribution of workers, 
etc., and then for us personally, as the missionaries suspect it, but 
are not sure where to place us. 

I feel free to take the step without hearing from you, if God 
leads, for mother expressed herself before I left, as preferring me 
to be married here in China. 

In her cheery, happy way she always had a message for 
all, so in the close of this letter she says, 

Tell brother I shall expect that handsome present and I have 

not forgotten that he said he was willing for me to come if there 
were any young men here. Well, the only one I have ever really 
loved is here, and I am very happy in it all, for I believe it is God's 
will for us. 

In another letter she says: 

We do not know when Mr. Farmer and I will be married. The 
ruling of the mission is that the last one on the field has to be here 
two years before marriage, but if it is better for the work, some- 
times it is granted earlier. Still we have no plans, but are looking 
to God for His time and plans to be carried out. 

This is a serious question anywhere, but especially on the foreign 
field, and we have not gone into it in a simple, silly, way, but in much 
prayer and waiting upon God as to His will and approval. Besides 
the love, He has set His seal upon every step of the way, and we are 
very happy in the thought of laboring together for Him and these 
precious souls to whom He has called us. 

After making several personal remarks, she facetiously 
adds: 



96 Ada Beeson Farmer 

I have told others to send you letters, so that you may have all 
this, but if you have, just forgive the repetition and say, "Ada is 
really in love with a man." The Lord has taught me many precious 
lessons since the relation sprang up between Mr. Farmer and 
myself. I know Him better than ever before. I feel that I am all 
the Lord's apart from Mr. Farmer, and then I feel we are both His 
together, so I am doubly His. It is so precious to take the steps 
of marriage with one, where we can be one in all things in Christ. 

The happy days of rest and recuperation at Macao were 
soon over, and by November 22, all had returned to Wu- 
cheo, and Mrs. Farmer was once more busy with the lan- 
guage and the other duties which fell to her lot. Under the 
above date she writes: "My heart rejoiced to get home once 
more." 

[November 24.] Awoke in the night with a burden of prayer. 
Wilmoth ate his last dinner with us and prepared to go. It was 
hard to see him go and my natural heart will be with him, yet I 
rejoiced that he was able to return to his work for the Lord. God 
keep and bless. Praise God for the opportunity to study again! 

[November 25.] Awoke with such a burden of prayer for the 
salvation of many souls in China; the "Flower Boat" girls; the slave 
girls; opium smokers especially; and that God would give Wilmoth 
and me many precious souls. — Studied with teacher, and with such 
joy. 

The remaining days of the year are without a record of 
any kind. 



GO AND TELL. 

Send the gospel of salvation, 

To a world of dying men ; 
Tell it out to every nation, 

Till the Lord shall come again. 

'Tis the church's great commission 

'Tis the Master's last command ; 
Christ has died for every creature, 

Tell it out in every land. 

Tell it out to China's missions, 

Tell it out in fair Japan ; 
Tell it by the mighty Congo, 

Tell it in the dark Soudan. 

'Mid the lone Tibetan mountains, 

By the Orinoco's strand ; 
O'er the burning plans of India, 

Tell it out in every land. 

Christ is gath'ring out a people, 

To His name from every race; 
Haste to give the invitation, 

Ere shall end the day of grace. 

Give the gospel as a witness, 

To a world of sinful men ; 
Till the Bride shall be completed, 

And the Lord shall come again. 

A. B. Simpson. 



CHAPTER VIII 

The First Two Years on the Field (continued) 
First Work Among the Chinese. Marriage 

Tell it again! Tell it again! 
Salvation s story repeat o'er and o'er 
'Till none can say of the children of men, 

Nobody ever has told me before. 

Mrs. M. B. C. Slade. 

How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace 
and bring glad tidings of good things! — Isaiah. 




EFORE taking up the thread of the previous 
chapter we would like to say that usually 
most mission boards allot two years to 
the new missionary to do little else but 
study the language. The first two years 
of the new recruit are watched with much 
interest and some little apprehension by 
the older missionaries, for they are very indicative of a mis- 
sionary's career; they either make or break him. Generally 
speaking, they are the two hardest years upon the field; cer- 
tainly the two hardest of the first term of service. A person 
will, by God's grace, and his own determination and hard 
work, rise superior to every obstacle and conquer, or, he will 
be conquered by circumstances and become a failure. He 
is not battling with the difficulty of the language alone. If 
that were all, well and good; but with the new land, the new 
people, the strange customs, and the different climate; and 
then that other climate to which it is sometimes more diffi- 
cult to become accustomed than to any other, namely, the 
climate created by his fellow workers already on the field 
with their different views and larger experience of mission 
work. Again, there are the awful and subtle temptations 
of Satan; sickness, either of himself or some one else near 
him, and hundreds of other trying and harassing things, 



ioo Ada Beeson Farmer 

all of which seem to combine during the first two years, to 
hinder a new missionary. 

This preparatory period of testing and delay is of infinite 
value to the new missionary as well as to the mission, and 
happy is the man who passes through it and still maintains 
the fervor of his first love and earnestness to preach the 
gospel in the regions beyond! While there are some who 
give up the fight and return home, or become deadweights 
on the mission, we are glad to say that in most cases, by 
the grace of God, the soul rises equal to the occasion and 
demands made upon it, and goes on conquering and to con- 
quer, fulfilling all of God's glorious plans and purposes for 
life. 

Mrs. Farmer's first two years, we would not say were 
more difficult than those of other missionaries, for what is 
dreaded by one person is often a mere trifle to another; but 
we think that in the foregoing chapter, which about covers 
her first year in China, and in which we have not revealed 
all the hardships of that period, enough has been told to 
show that her life was by no means exempt from trials and 
difficulties. The one truth which she ever believed with 
all her heart, was, that God was directing her life, and all 
that came to her was by His permission, and meant good for 
her and glory to Him; consequently, she met the trying 
things of life with holy joy and confidence, and triumphed 
in the grace of God. 

We shall now resume the quotations from her journal, 
which begin near the close of her first year in China. 

[January I.] Blessed watch-night service. Verses for the New 
Year, Isa. xli.io; Eph. v.17; Josh, i.9; Dan. xi.32. 

The first half of the month has a meager record. Her 
Sabbath mornings were almost invariably spent in fasting 
and prayer. 

[January 18.] "Thou hast given him power over all flesh." A 
precious time in fasting and prayer. Jno. xvii.2; — I had a blessed 
time studying Ezk. xxiv, xxv, xxvi, as to God's dealings with Jeru- 
salem, and then the punishment of the cities that were against Jeru- 
salem; and a most precious season for the work, more workers, and 
the whole world. 



Ada Beeson Farmer ioi 

Although she loved China dearly, her heart like that of 
her Savior, could not confine itself to one place, but beat 
with love for the whole world. The following Monday, 
Tuesday, and Wednesday, she speaks of having headache, 
that bugbear of the East to those who do hard mental work; 
but on Thursday says : 

"The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me." A precious 
day of drinking in the life of God; his presence very real. Teach 
me more to cease, and let Thee be my all in all. 

[January 23.] All the ladies of our mission called upon Mrs. 

(wife of one of the Customs staff). When I saw her life, how I 
praised God for saving me from such! "For Thee all the follies 
of sin I resign." 

[January 24.] Head better, praise the Lord! Studied with the 
teacher and had such a burden of prayer could not study; so poured 
out my heart in prayer and thanksgiving to God. 

How faithful in prayer she was! 

[January 25.] Such a burden of prayer for Wilmoth and 
Brother Cunningham. (The latter was sick with fever in Kweilin 
and the writer was with him.) Went to guest-room and poured out 
my heart to God. 

[January 30.] "Search me, O God, and know my heart." Spent 
the early morn in bed in prayer and looking to God. Met Him 
face to face; underwent a heart-searching. 

The Chinese teacher under whom Mrs. Farmer was 
studying at this time was a fine gentleman and became much 
interested in the gospel. In January while Mr. Franscen, a 
Swedish evangelist, was holding meetings for the Chinese 
in Wucheo, Liao Sien Seng showed signs of true repentance, 
often weeping over his sins and seeking forgiveness. Mrs. 
Farmer and others taught him, prayed with him, and helped 
him to see Christ as his Savior. He found peace and joy in 
the Lord, served God faithfully, and helped to preach the 
gospel at Kweilin for some little time. 

[February 8.] "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear 
him. Pray in the Holy Ghost." Morning of special blessing in 
prayer and communion. Jesus is my "all in all." When it is 
so precious now to look back and see what God has done for us, 
what must it be when He comes, and we see it all from the God 
side! 



102 Ada Beeson Farmer 

[February 15.] "They that are in the flesh can not please God." 
Rom. viii.8. Precious time in prayer and a real weeping before Him 
for His goodness to me, and for what He is in Himself. One year 
ago to-day I reached Wucheo. My heart is so full of praise for what 
this year has been! I know my God better. I look out into the 
next and expect still more. 

[February 16.] "Thy name is as ointment poured forth." Lord, 
make my life so sweet that it will be fragrant, and that all who 
come in contact with me may find Thy sweetness. 

[March 1.] I testified in Chinese for the first time. I made 
many mistakes, but praise God for helping me! 

In a letter to her sister, Mrs. Conger, dated March 7th, 
she says : 

We are all well and happy in Him here. I have finished Mark 
and am up to the fourth chapter of Matthew. How I long to get 
out and tell the gospel to these people! I will be so glad when I can 
get on an inland station, where I can wear Chinese and not have 
to think about sewing and fixing; but live like the Chinese. I am 
now studying Daniel and Isaiah for my Bible study, and am being 
much blessed in the study of prophecy. 

[March 14.] Thieves heard last night, and had a regular night- 
dress parade! But no thief caught. 

[March 16.] Praise God for what He is, and how He reveals 
His will to those who will it. 

[March 24.] Victory in Jesus, though misunderstood. 

In a letter dated March 25, she writes: 

How I rejoice with you that the Lord has sent you some Spirit- 
filled men as pastors of the different churches in Arcadia, and for 
your women's prayer-meeting. God grant that it may be a place 
of power for good, first, in deepening the lives of the women, and 
next, in making them a great power in the hands of God in bringing 
others to Christ. I know you will pray for me, rather us, the work, 
and different needs on all the stations. You can not know how 
many of these precious souls you can help to bring into the kingdom 
by your prayers. They have to be prayed into the kingdom, for the 
enemy is so alive in this land and has so many devices to snatch 
them away. The persecution through which many of these dear 
souls have to pass is more than we can conceive, and it is especially 
hard for the poor women, for they are largely ruled by their hus- 
bands and sons. 

The record for April is filled with references to prayer 
and the everyday routine of life, in which she was no small 



Ada Beeson Farmer 103 

factor in serving others by all the little deeds of kindness 
which would present themselves in such a large household; 
for not only were members of the Christian and Mission- 
ary Alliance mission present, but also some from the Church 
Missionary Society. It was one of her delights to help at- 
tend to the little babe of Mrs. Byrde, one of the Church 
Missionary Society ladies, and there are frequent references 
to this pleasure. We have already remarked in a preceding 
chapter how she was ever the children's friend. In a letter 
referring to the little Church Missionary Society baby, she 
says: 

The babe is so sweet and fat; you know how I love children, so 
I have been enjoying the little one. She is a little over a year 
old and beginning to talk a little. 

There are also frequent references to the awful famine 
which ravaged that portion of Kuangsi in which the Chris- 
tian and Missionary Alliance labored. She constantly re- 
membered in prayer those in distress, and also helped them 
by what offerings she was able to contribute. 

[May 3.] Awoke and waited upon the Lord; studied the morn- 
ing lesson, Isa. liii; never seemed so precious, I think. Mrs. Byrde 
came in and we prayed for the women and work in Kweilin, and work 
in general, and all the world. 

Mrs. Farmer, although having studied only a little over a 
year and under the most trying conditions, now began to go 
out occasionally in company with one of the Cantonese- 
speaking lady missionaries and the Bible-woman. Wher- 
ever she met a Mandarin-speaking woman she would try 
and tell them of Jesus and His love. 

[May 7.] Miss Rutherford, Mrs. Wang and I went calling and 
a great rain storm came. I spoke a few words in Chinese. Praise 
God! Miss Rutherford and I waded the water. 

[May 8.] Miss Rutherford, Mrs. Wang and I called at three 
places. I talked some at two places. How these dear women need 
Christ. Praise God for the privilege of speaking a few sentences 
for Jesus in China! 

[May 9.] Afternoon, went to Chinese union meeting and played 
the organ. The Lord helped me, praise His dear name! My first 
attempt. Spoke a few words to a woman crossing the river. 



104 Ada Beeson Farmer 

During these spring months one of the lady members of 
the mission passed through one of those seasons of spirit- 
ual darkness, which sometimes comes to those conscientious 
and godly souls, and of whose sensitive spiritual nature 
Satan tries to make shipwreck by driving the soul to 
melancholy and despair. Mrs. Farmer continually prayed 
for and with this dear sister, and did what she could in 
bringing her back to the sunshine of God's love. This mat- 
ter was a great load upon Mrs. Farmer, for her intensely 
sympathetic nature could not bear to see any one suffer 
physically or mentally, without doing all she could to relieve 
the sufferer. And all the more did she feel it incumbent 
upon her, when that suffering was a temptation of Satan. 
The references to it in her diary show how true she was to 
her sister's need at this time. 

[May 20.] "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteous- 
ness and all these things shall be added." Sweet time waiting upon 
Him. Burden for more workers, and a station for Wilmoth and 
me. 

[May 28.] Went to the city and called at five places. Some so 
indifferent, and others too busy to hear; still others so eager and drank 
in. "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord 
of hosts." 

[May 31.] I arose at five-thirty a. m. and had a precious season 
with the Lord. The morning message to my heart, "Whatsoever 
things ye desire when ye pray believe that ye have received them 
and ye shall have them." I did not take breakfast, but spent 
the time in prayer. A real burden of spirit for these poor souls 
here in China and for the needs of the work. 

[June 4.] Feel my littleness, I think, as never before. Called at 
four houses in the afternoon. What a joy to be able to say a few 
words for Jesus! 

[June 5.] Arose at five-thirty a. m., and had a precious season 
waiting upon God. "What hast thou that thou didst not receive? 
Now if thou didst receive it why dost thou glory as if thou hadst 
not received it?" I just wept before the Lord and my heart was 
melted before Him. The Lord laid great burdens upon our hearts 
for famine district, new workers, money for property, and looking 
for new stations in Mandarin district. 

[June 10.] Another real meeting the Lord in one or two things 
regarding future steps. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 105 

[June 16.] Had a good day in the language. The Lord seemed 
so sweet and helped to open it up to me. Praise His dear name! 
The boatman, Wang's, wife died this morning. We trust she is 
saved; she had asked for baptism. 

[June 21.] "Father forgive them, they know not what they do." 
Lord, give me more and more this spirit. 

[June 24.] "Commit thy way unto the Lord ." Had such a 

good night most of the time, and had asked the Lord to let me 
sleep till the rising bell, and sure enough, that was the first thing 
I knew. Praise Him, "He cares for me!" Praise God for pro- 
tecting Mr. Farmer; narrow escape on the river. 

The Annual Conference convened June 30th, and the 
next few days were busy ones. 

[July 2.] Awoke at three a. m. My soul flooded with the joy 
of the Lord. Felt like shouting! 

[July 6.] "Let your speech be always with grace." A real mes- 
sage to me for answering , when she spoke like she did. 

At the close of conference, Mrs. Farmer, in company with 
others, went to Macao for a month's rest which she badly 
needed. 

[July 17.] A real malarial headache. Could not seem to get vic- 
tory in body. After breakfast cut 's suits, but felt too sick to 

finish fitting. Burden for Liucheo, and if Mr. Farmer should go. 

[July 18.] Awoke feeling some better and had long season of 
prayer and Bible study. Had a real good sleep after dinner and 
read "Acts of the Holy Spirit," and the Lord spoke to my heart in 
the line of guidance and checking of the Holy Spirit. Lord, help 
me to so live as to know Thy voice, follow it, or mind the checks, 
as the case may be. 

[July 19.] First Sunday in Macao. "One thing I have desired 
of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house 
of the Lord all the days of my life." All the morn was spent at 
His feet and He spoke directly to my heart on, we are as definitely 
called and set apart as Paul and Barnabas, why not the same power? 
I underwent a heart-searching, and my heart cried out to God to so 
burn out the dross, that Wilmoth and I shall live the fruits of the 
Spirit. Lord, let our lives be Gal v.22, 23, and, that out from our 
inmost being shall really flow rivers of living water and blessing. 
Spent the greater part of the day in prayer. Claimed clear guidance 
for Mr. Farmer as to station. Went to my room right after evening 
prayers and had a long season of prayer alone. I was to-day able to 
count my body healed in Him. 



106 Ada Beeson Farmer 

[July 26.] The Lord spoke to me on "faith," taking God at 
His word in prayer. Did not feel very well, so slept the greater 
part of the morning. A fight with the enemy, but "thanks be 
unto God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 
I poured out my soul in prayer to God. My heart cried out, "Deeper 
yet." Burn all the dross out and let my life be lived for others. 
Let Thy life flow through Wilmoth and me to the salvation of 
many perishing souls. 

The last three or four entries give us a vivid idea of how 
Mrs. Farmer passed her vacation days. We are sure our 
readers have felt before now that she, in her religious and 
other exercises, went far beyond her strength. But let it 
be remembered that in transcribing her journal for this 
book we have passed over many items of her daily life 
which would not be of interest in a book of this kind; and, 
since it is the intention of the writer to give the religious 
side of her nature and work, the devotional aspect of her 
life is most emphasized, and is most prominently before 
us all the time. She was not in the least fanatical, but hav- 
ing been reared a strict Methodist, she habitually fasted 
once a week, according to the old rules of the Methodist 
church. While we would not for anything, say one word 
against fasting — a question which all Christians must set- 
tle for themselves in the light of God's Word — yet we do 
not hesitate to say that we believe the strict regime imposed 
upon the Methodists of England and America by John 
Wesley, would never suit an Eastern climate with its de- 
bilitating conditions which naturally tend to rob one of rest 
and appetite. As a rule, one has to be rather indulgent in 
the line of sleep and good food in order to foster strength 
for the arduous tasks of the mission field. 

We must also say in Mrs. Farmer's defense that she was 
very conscientious in the care of her health, and performed 
her out-door exercises and recreation almost as regularly 
and punctiliously as she did her private devotions. And 
the longer she lived in China, the more she realized and 
observed the need of rest and exercise. After four o'clock 
p. m., she was never willing for the writer to remain longer 
in his study, and from that hour till supper the time was 
generally spent in the open air in some kind of exercise. 
Say what we will, a soul with such an ardent love for Jesus 



Ada Beeson Farmer 107 

Christ and the work to which He called her; a spirit so 
aflame for the salvation of souls and the good of those 
about her, would necessarily soon consume the body that 
contained it. As we think over her missionary career for 
the past nine years, we feel that we can truthfully say that 
she, like Henry Martyn, "Burned out for God." More- 
over, as we look about us to-day, we do not see many Chris- 
tians who are fasting and praying more than they should, 
and if she erred in these holy exercises of the soul, we can 
not but feel glad that it was in this direction rather than 
the opposite. Would to God that the Church of Christ 
had more men and women who could pray like the holy 
Brainerd, McCheyne, Finney, and others ! 

[September 6.] "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul! I 
stretch forth my hands unto thee; my soul thirsteth after thee, as 
a thirsty land." I do long for God's best at any cost. "Lord, if 
thorns my pathway meet, bid me be still, be still." A morning 
of real quiet and settling some things and looking for light. The 
Lord gave me some precious messages on suffering for, and with, Him. 
Lord, I want to always do it in the Lamb-like spirit, so I look to 
Thee for the Lion-strength. 

[September 13.] I spent the greater part of the morning in prayer 
and heart-searching. It seems so hard to have to remain here so 
long and do other things than language study, and real mission work. 
I am willing if it is His will. 

Any one who has ever tried to acquire one language 
among a people speaking a different one, will appreciate the 
hard place in which Mrs. Farmer stood, which called forth 
the foregoing remark. Being in a port city where the mis- 
sionary community is large, there were social and other 
demands constantly made upon her which she could not but 
question. She longed to be away inland, where unencum- 
bered, she could devote her time to preaching and teaching 
the Chinese women the way of life. 

Although not yet permitted to go inland, provision was 
made whereby she and another lady missionary could oc- 
cupy the old house at Pehshankioh, where they might re- 
ceive any Mandarin-speaking Chinese women who would 
come to them, hold meetings, and do house-to-house visita- 
tion in the city. This arrangement, by no means ideal, was 
better than remaining in the receiving home on the hill, and 



i oS Ada B e e s o n Farmer 

gave her some advantage in language study and oppor- 
tunity of mingling with the people until her marriage. 

[October 8.] Moved to Pehshankioh. Awoke at five a. m., and 
had a long season of prayer. . . . All things nearly straight by 
four-thirty p. m. 

[October 9.] Heart full of praise to God for His keeping power 
and peace. Experiences began as I told the cook how to cook. 
Praise God for the day! Heart full of praise. He is all in all 
to me. 

[October 14.] Wilmoth and I had our last meeting. (We 
had been detained at Wucheo since vacation on account of illness.) 
A precious meeting not only in our love, but God's presence man- 
ifest. We committed each other, all interests, and future plans to 
Him. 

[November 15.] Awoke and spent much time in blessed com- 
munion. Studied the Leper in Lev. xiii and xiv. Blessed and full 
atonement for sin. Blessed time in teaching Ta Sao (her servant 
woman) the Lord's prayer and a hymn. My heart cried out to 
God in my secret chamber, to make Wilmoth and me what He wills 
at any cost. After dinner lay down to read, but some women came. 
I talked the gospel to them, and let them see my room. 

[November 16.] Luh P'o came but she was not well enough to 
go calling. We prayed with her. 

To the difficulty of studying Mandarin in a Cantonese 
city, was added another, namely, having no Bible-woman 
to assist her who could speak Mandarin. The mention of 
Luh P'o in the above entry recalls a dear old Chinese 
woman who could speak Mandarin brokenly, and upon 
whom Mrs. Farmer used to rely at times to help her visit 
and teach what Mandarin-speaking women she could find 
in Wucheo. Luh P'o had been a beggar on the streets of 
Wucheo, and had been converted some time before Mrs. 
Farmer came to China. She was not saved until after sev- 
enty years of age, and then, for some time, seemed to live 
an unsatisfactory life, feeling much her poverty and other 
trials. The Chinese church at Wucheo helped her some, 
and she also sold cakes upon the streets to supply her mea- 
ger living. About two years before she died there came a 
great change in her life and she became much interested 
in the salvation of others, and went out day by day, visit- 
ing in the different homes to tell the people of the Savior 



Ada Beeson Farmer 109 

she had found. In this way, hundreds heard the gospel 
from her lips, and after her death many Chinese who had 
come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, testified that 
they had first heard of Him through Luh P'o. We have 
often heard Mrs. Farmer speak of the old lady's faithful- 
ness, and of how much help she was to her in those first 
attempts at speaking and teaching the Chinese women. She 
died November 30, in great peace, and was sincerely 
mourned by all the Christians. 

[November 16.] Eph. iii.17-19, morning message. Lord, help 
me to comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth, that I may 
be filled with all the fulness of God. My heart's cry to God is, 
"Deeper yet." Empty, cleanse, fill to fulness, that I may so let 
Christ live in me to bring many to Him. 

[November 19.] Went calling with Mrs. Wang. Called at six 
places. Praise God for some ready to listen, and for helping me 
preach! Lord, seal the messages to some hearts. 

Sunday, November 22, her dairy contains one sentence 
only, "My first message in Chinese. Jno. iv, 'The woman at 
the well of Samaria.' " As we have seen, she had been visit- 
ing in the homes and chatting the gospel there and in the re- 
ception-room at Pehshankioh, but this was the first formal 
address she had attempted. Those of us who have had to 
struggle with the difficulties of the Chinese language, know 
how important an epoch it marked in her language study 
and missionary career. One of the hardest things a new 
missionary has to do is to launch out and begin to give pub- 
lic addresses in the vernacular. The hundreds of Chinese 
characters and pet phrases, which he has learned and can 
repeat so volubly with the teacher, seem to take wings and 
fly away when he stands up before a curious and eager audi- 
ence of Chinese. But success will surely be the reward of 
those who go in the spirit of the old adage, "If at first you 
don't succeed, try, try again." 

[December 7.] Went calling in afternoon. Realized God's lead- 
ing to different places. Praise God for being able to speak a little! 

[December 10.] Went calling in afternoon. Spoke some and 
had freedom in one place, especially. How I long to preach! 

[December 15.] "Look not every man on his own things, but 
every man also on the things of others." Also Mark x.45. Felt 



no Ada Beeson Farmer 

clearly led to give three hundred dollars to Kweilin. What joy in 
following Him! 

[December 16.] Awoke in night and had a quiet time in medita- 
tion. The Lord felt so near, and my soul was full of joy. Praise 
Him! 

[December 17.] Rom. viii.26, Eph. vi.18, came so preciously to 
me, for I was so burdened in prayer for money for the work. Lord, 
teach me how to pray and take from Thee. 

The year of 1904 meant much to Mrs. Farmer, contain- 
ing as it did two important events in her life. The first 
was her marriage to W. A. Farmer, and the second was the 
part she had in opening P'ingloh to the gospel. Her out- 
look upon the year so momentous to her is fittingly told in 
the couplet which stands at the gateway, as it were, of the 
New Year. 

[January 1.] "Peace, perfect peace, the future all unknown, 
But Christ we know, and He is on the throne." 

The first half of the month was spent in study and ear- 
nestly preaching the gospel whenever the opportunity pre- 
sented itself. Her heart was filled with the deepest joy 
as she looked forward to the time of her wedding. 

[Januarjr 9.] Telegram from Kweilin. Wilmoth started Jan- 
uary 8. What joy it brought to my heart! Lord, may I not only 
prepare for my bridegroom here, but be always ready for my 
Heavenly Bridegroom. 

There being no American consul in Wucheo, it was nec- 
essary to go to Canton for the ceremony. In company with 
a Bible-woman, she left Wucheo January 25, to join her 
fiance, who had preceded her two or three days in order to 
make the requisite arrangements for the wedding. 

An amusing incident occurred which gave publicity to 
the marriage and furnished grounds for much teasing of 
both bride and groom. On account of difference of time 
in clocks, or tardiness of the coolies in carrying her trunk to 
the steamer, she arrived at the wharf in Wucheo just as 
the large river steamer was sailing away. She had to take 
a "sampan" and set out in chase. When the captain saw 
the gesticulations of the crowd in the "sampan" and heard 
the cry, "Wait, a lady who is to be married must catch the 



—ra— ■■■iiiiiiM nam —■ — mm 




Ada Beeson Farmer . in 

steamer!" he kindly stopped until the little boat came along- 
side, and took her and her baggage aboard. The captain 
and the crew did not fail to enjoy the episode, and after- 
wards always teasingly called her, "The lady who came 
near being left." 

[January 25.] Up early and ready to start for Canton; trunk 
was left, and I came near being left. A precious day with the Lord 
and the Chinese. Two Mandarin women in the room, and had 
fine opportunity to talk the gospel. Luh Sao faithful to witness. 

[January 26.] Awoke and prayed in "bunk" after a good night's 
rest. Prayed aloud in Chinese after the T'ai T'ai requested it. 
Dressed for marriage. Mr. Farmer and Miss Nelson met me. My 
heart was full of joy that the day had at last come when I was 
to be married to my beloved. We went straight to the consulate 
and were married in the presence of two Chinese officials. Went 
to Miss Nelson's and had a quiet time and good dinner. I was 
so happy. All went to prayer-meeting and left Wilmoth and me 
alone. We knelt and consecrated out united lives — one in Him — 
to God, in prayer. Precious season. Lord, Thy will be done in and 
through us. 

It should be said by way of explanation, that the presence 
of the two Chinese Mandarins was not at all official. In- 
cidentally, they happened to be visiting the consul relative 
to other matters, and out of courtesy and respect were in- 
vited in to see a Christian wedding. The beautiful and rich 
garments which the officials of China wear, together with 
the red umbrellas, wooden banners shining with golden 
script, gaily decorated sedan chairs, and red-coated braves, 
and all the odds and ends that go to make up an official reti- 
nue, made the occasion seem indeed, like a Chinese wed- 
ding, especially since both bride and groom had on Chinese 
costume. 

In justification of wearing these garments on such an oc- 
casion it should be said that both parties felt, since they 
were to live so far in the interior of China, much fear and 
prejudice against the hated "foreign devil" would be re- 
moved, and greater access to the people gained, to say noth- 
thing of the convenience and cheapness, and vast amount of 
sewing Mrs. Farmer would be saved, (since the Chinese 
tailors could make and fit their garments better than Amer- 
ican clothes), if the Chinese dress was adopted. And to 



ii2 Ada Beeson Farmer 

avoid buying two trousseaus, one of American and another 
of Chinese garments, and cutting the que of the groom, who 
had already been in the native costume two years, it was 
decided to get married in Chinese dress. The utility of the 
Chinese dress, especially for women in hard pioneer work 
in inland China, has been proven over and over again, and 
up to the time of her death, Mrs. Farmer continued to wear 
it. She was ever willing to be "all things to all men" that 
she might win them for Jesus Christ. She was glad to 
adopt any manner of dress or living, which was not 
heathenish, if in so doing Christ might be brought nearer 
China's dying millions. After a day spent in Canton shop- 
ping, the happy couple returned to Wucheo. Then after a 
day or so spent in packing, a Chinese river boat of medium 
size was hired, and February 3, they started up the beau- 
tiful Fu River for Kweilin, where Mrs. Farmer was to re- 
main until her husband could open P'ingloh, a large city 
about half way between Wucheo and Kweilin. 

We can never forget that bridal trip ! The boat, which 
had a bamboo shed over it, was stuffed full of all sorts of 
household goods and furniture, for many dear friends had 
been most generous to give us such articles as would be 
most useful in the little home which lay before us. It was 
a kind of Noah's Ark minus the animals; and yet, when 
the Chinese boatmen ascended the steep, boiling rapids of 
the river, if our readers could have heard the yells and 
songs as they overcame the force of the rushing water, 
they would have thought we had the animals, too. 

Although there was no beautiful drawing-room suite on 
some magnificent Pullman Express, and it took the Chinese 
boatmen fifteen days to go about two hundred and fifty 
miles, who would dare say it was not an ideal honeymoon 
trip? For, dear reader, have you not learned that en- 
vironment does not necessarily make happiness? The true 
source of happiness is always from within. 

On February 18, which was the third day of the Chinese 
New Year, Mrs. Farmer has the following: 

We had our morning prayers together; packed everything; Mr. 
Farmer walked on shore ; I embroidered ; we sang together and had 
one meal on boat. As we came in sight of the city proper, we sang, 




Mk. and Mrs. W. A. Farmer en Chinese Dress. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 113 

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow" from the bottom of our 
hearts. Reached Kweilin four-thirty p. m. 

We see from the above how glad she was to at last be 
in a Mandarin-speaking city, and in a part of that section to 
which she felt God was calling her. The long and difficult 
struggle of trying to learn one dialect while surrounded by 
people speaking another, was now a thing of the past; and 
moreover, being removed from the central station of the 
mission which is the distributing point for all the other sta- 
tions, and necessarily places many duties other than direct 
preaching of the gospel upon those who labor there; be- 
sides the many social demands made upon one living in a 
port city and missionary community such as Wucheo; she 
could now give her undivided attention to the one thing of 
preaching Christ to the women of inland Kuangsi. 

As has been said before, Mrs. Farmer was to remain at 
Kweilin only so long as it took her husband to open up P'ing- 
loh. Kweilin was in charge of other members of the mis- 
sion, and Mrs. Farmer was to occupy rooms at the station 
and aid in the women's work until she could join her hus- 
band at P'ingloh. The time needed to get a place at once 
suitable as residence and a center for gospel work being 
such an unknown quantity, especially in those days, the only 
thing to be done was to make the rooms which she was to 
occupy at Kweilin as homelike and cosy as possible. To 
this she and her husband devoted themselves for the next 
few days and began to really "keep house," as the expres- 
sion goes. To give our readers a peep behind the scenes 
into one of those first days of housekeeping, we will quote 
from her journal of March 5th. 

Up early, season of prayer. A Kwei still sick. Teacher came; 
we did not study. Mr. Farmer scrubbed and I helped clean up, and 
made cabbage pickle in the morning; afternoon, made tea and cakes. 
Washed Mr. Farmer's head [which the writer would like to say 
needed it after all the dust and dirt of cleaning up]. Filled lamps, 
etc. Mr. Farmer hung the food safe and helped me all day. Callers 
came for him and I finished ironing and mending. He read to me 
while I mended. Studied Romans on Sanctification. 

As we see from the above, A Kwei, the cook, was sick, 
for Chinese cooks get sick sometimes, as well as those in 



ii4 Ada Beeson Farmer 

America, and there was nothing to do but for the husband to 
take the scrubbing and hard work, and the wife to do the 
other. It is really amusing, after such a strenuous day to 
find the Scripture lesson is on sanctification. 

About a month later, the writer left for P'ingloh to get 
a place in which to live and preach the gospel. How Mrs. 
Farmer spent her time during this interim prior to her hus- 
band's departure, may be seen from her journal. We will 
not quote the daily entries verbatim, but in a word, say that 
realizing that the acquisition of the language was the first 
and most important thing, she arranged all her domestic 
matters and her share in the work of the station so as to 
give as much attention to study as possible. She also faith- 
fully availed herself of all the opportunities of witnessing 
for Christ to the women who came in the reception-room or 
to the regular church services. 



THE MISSIONARY CRY. 

A hundred thousand souls a day, 
Are passing one by one away, 
In Christless guilt and gloom. 
Without one ray of hope or light, 
With future dark as endless night, 
They're passing to their doom. 

O, Holy Ghost, Thy people move, 

Baptize their hearts with faith and love, 

And consecrate their gold. 

At Jesus' feet their millions pour, 

And all their ranks unite once more, 

As in the days of old. 

Armies of prayer your promise claim, 
Prove the full pow'r of Jesus' name, 
And take the victory. 
Your conqu'ring Captain leads you on, 
The glorious fight may still be won, 
This very century. 

The Master's coming draweth near, 
The Son of Man will soon appear, 
His Kingdom is at hand. 
But ere that glorious day can be, 
This Gospel of the Kingdom, we 
Must preach in every land. 

O, let us then His coming haste, 
O, let us end this awful waste 
Of souls that never die. 
A thousand millions still are lost, 
A Saviour's blood has paid the cost, 
O, hear their dying cry. 

They're passing, passing fast away, 

A hundred thousand souls a day, 

In Christless guilt and gloom. 

O, Church of Christ, what wilt thou say 

When in the awful judgment day, 

They charge thee with their doom? 

A. B. Simpson. 



CHAPTER IX 

The Opening of P'ingloh 

The voice of my departed Lord, "Go teach all nations," 
Comes on the night air, and azvakes mine ear. 

Through ages of eternal years, 

My spirit never shall repent, 
That toil and suffering once were mine below. 

Nathan Brown. 

I will go before thee and make the crooked places straight. I 
will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars 
of iron. And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden 
riches of secret places, that thou may est know that I, the Lord, which 
call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. — Isaiah. 




F the map is consulted, it will be seen that 
P'ingloh, (Tranquil Joy) , is situated about 
halfway between Wucheo and Kweilin, on 
the Fu River. It is one of the prefectural 
cities of Kuangsi province, and has juris- 
diction over a populous and important 
section of the province. Let us say, for 
the enlightenment of those who are not familiar with the 
government of a Chinese province, that it is divided into 
prefectures or districts, and each district has a city, gen- 
erally of some size and importance, which is known as the 
prefectural city, the residence of the prefect or chief mag- 
istrate. These prefectural territories are again sub-divided 
into districts at the political center of which there is a city 
and resident magistrate, lower in political rank than the 
prefect. There are other minor political divisions which 
it is not necessary to describe, as the larger and important 
outlines are those given above. But it may be added, that 
in all of these different political divisions of the province, 
there are numberless market towns and villages, which are, 
of course, answerable through their local authorities to the 
heads of the government above them. P'ingloh, including 



1 1 8 Ada Beeson Farmer 

itself, governs eight political districts, and the cities of these 
districts for the most part are important commercial cen- 
ters. Most, if not all, can be reached by waterways as well 
as good overland roads. Some of the largest market towns 
in the province of Kuangsi are in the P'ingloh prefecture, 
and in some cases, these market towns in actual area, are 
larger than the prefectural city. It is needless to remark 
that the whole prefectural district of P'ingloh is teeming 
with a numerous and industrial population. The writer has 
visited on preaching tours each of the cities of the prefec- 
ture, and most of the market towns, and has never lacked 
for crowds to whom he might preach and distribute tracts 
and gospels. Being situated, as was said, between Wucheo 
and Kweilin, two of the most important centers of the prov- 
ince, P'ingloh itself is not so important from a commercial 
standpoint, and yet is a distributing base for the cities and 
market towns of its district. Considered from a mission- 
ary standpoint, it is a city and district of strategic value. 

It had long been the cherished hope and prayer of Mrs. 
Farmer that she should some day be allowed to go to the 
northwestern part of Kuangsi, and more particularly to a 
city called Liucheo, situated near the center of the province. 
She knew that it was a section more destitue of gospel wit- 
ness, and it was ever her ambition "To preach the gospel 
in the regions beyond, and not to boast in another's line of 
things made ready to hand." She felt as did Carey of old, 
"Not where I am needed, but where I am needed most." 

P'ingloh did receive a passing witness through the mis- 
sionaries traveling up and down the Fu River, and, in some 
parts of its district, the Southern Baptists have a splendid 
work carried on by Chinese Christians, while Liucheo, 
K'ingiien, and the regions beyond, were in utter darkness. 
She was not the only one in the mission who felt that Liucheo 
should be opened as soon as possible to the gospel, for the 
mission had been praying and planning to that end for a 
long time; but on account of the disturbed condition of that 
section of the province, missionaries were not allowed to go 
there. In fact, the very year she was married Liucheo was 
taken and sacked by mutinous troops of soldiers and robbers, 



Ada Beeson Farmer 119 

and it was out of the question to attempt mission work 
among a people so terrified and unsettled. Still, God was 
not unmindful of the tears and cries of His child, and at a 
later time gave her the full desire of her heart. 

After Liucheo, the city of P'ingloh was considered as be- 
ing the next in importance, so the occupation of it by the 
newly married couple was presented to them for considera- 
tion and prayer. Since from the missionary point of view 
it was strategic, and halfway the long distance between two 
large stations already opened; also, the way to Liucheo be- 
ing closed, together with the fact that there was now avail- 
able a married couple for the project, it seemed that God's 
opportune hour had arrived, so the energy and prayers of 
all were turned upon P'ingloh. 

It is one thing to pass through a Chinese city, preach on 
the streets and in its temples, distribute gospels and tracts, 
and then pass on in a few days to another city, and quite 
another thing to go into a Chinese city and attempt to buy 
or rent a permanent residence, and establish a foothold for 
the gospel. While in the former case the opposition is 
slight, in the latter it may take an aggressive and most hos- 
tile form. Those who have done pioneer mission work in 
old China can well attest the fact that in the opening of 
new territory for the gospel one fights not against flesh and 
blood only, "but against principalities, against powers, 
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against 
wicked spirits in high places." There is nothing Satan hates 
so much as the cause of foreign missions and he contests 
every advance step. 

April 6, 1904, the writer in company with Uen Sien Seng, 
a faithful Chinese preacher, and Lao Liao, a Chinese Chris- 
tian, who was at once cook and valet, left Kweilin for P'ing- 
loh. In consideration of the fact that this was the first 
time any white man had ever tried to live in the city and 
not knowing what the future held, it can be easily seen that 
Mrs. Farmer could not have accompanied her husband, but 
that he would have to get a suitable place and then return 
for her. She was left at Kweilin with the other missionaries, 



120 Ada Beeson Farmer 

and though not allowed to go to P'ingloh in person at this 
time, she was all there in spirit and prayer. 

It will be interesting to cull enough from her diary to 
see how she spent the time while her husband was away. 

[April 6.] Wilmoth left for P'ingloh. Twelve noon, Lao Liao 
said boat was going. We ate dinner and finished packing, Wilmoth 
and I, then committed each other to God in prayer. The Lord has 
been so near, though I do miss Wilmoth so much. 

[April 10.] Spent the morning in Bible study and prayer. Sketch 
of Madame Guyon was an inspiration to me; also a sermon of 
Mr. Simpson's. A time of heart-searching and going deeper. The 
Lord was very near and real! 

[April 17.] A Kwei up and at church; praise God for healing 
him. 

[April 20.] Meeting for the women. Mrs. Huang, and Mr. 
Huang's mother came; began service and many came. Like a street 
meeting. Very difficult to speak to them, but praise God for the 
opportunity. May God bring good of it. Twenty women and more 
children; talked to Mrs. Huang after service. They remained for 
prayer-meeting, and he testified, and both prayed. 

[April 21.] Letter from Wilmoth. Praise God, he had rented 
a shop for chapel preaching. 

While we realize the undue prominence which it gives to 
the writer of this narrative, yet we feel at this point we 
should tell something of what had been transpiring at P'ing- 
loh the past two weeks, that we may have a good setting 
or background for the picture when Mrs. Farmer comes on 
the scene. 

On reaching P'ingloh, some rooms or rather some beds, 
which are two wide boards put across two wooden horses 
or trestles, such as American carpenters use, were secured 
in the rickety loft of a dirty inn near the riverside. For 
about two weeks day by day, the missionary and faithful 
Chinese preacher armed with Scripture portions, tracts and 
Bibles, walked the main streets of the city, of which the 
largest and most important is the main business street out- 
side the city gates, which follows the course of the river, 
the shops and stores on the lower side of it intervening be- 
tween it and the river. They offered the gospel in its 
printed form, to those ashamed to inquire by word or who 




i. The mew mission house at P'ingloh. 
3. A closer view of the s \mi". 
2. River scene at P'ingloh. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 121 

wished to take a portion home for further investigation, 
and generally, a part of the day was spent in oral preach- 
ing to the multitudes who passed by, usually taking a stand 
on the steps of the Cantonese guild house just in front of the 
theater, which was not being used at the time. 

Let us ever rest assured that when God calls us to go 
forward He always prepares the way before us. If Paul 
was forbidden by the Spirit to preach in Bythinia, that same 
Spirit of God opened the heart of Lydia to receive the gos- 
pel. While not securing a convert, yet a friend was given 
to us in the postmaster of the place, who being a man from 
Canton province and more enlightened, at least upon the 
business and motive of the foreign missionary, was not 
ashamed to call upon us at the inn. He, with true Chinese 
inquisitiveness, wanted to know all about the missionary's 
object in coming to P'ingloh. When he found out that it 
was to rent a house he immediately enlisted himself as one 
to aid in the search. 

After a day or so he came to take us to see a little house, 
more of a hovel than a house, which was just at the back 
door of a nice residence belonging to a Mr. Su, who was 
a brother of Marshal Su who at that time was detained in 
custody at Pekin, for disbanding in the western part of the 
province troops whose wages were in arrears, and 
which act resulted in turning loose upon the common people 
a horde of men who being far from home, did not hesitate 
to rob and plunder for a living and otherwise terrorize the 
people of that section. We mention the name of the land- 
lord to show that the official and more enlightened classes in 
China, while having no warm love for the white man, do not 
have the fear which is characteristic of the lower classes; and 
if it is of any pecuniary benefit to deal with "the foreign 
devil," they do not hesitate to do so. 

We tried to inspect the place as stealthily as possible for 
fear of exciting the people and having them intimidate the 
owner and perhaps hinder us from renting. But when we 
went into the house, Oh, what a miserable place! The 
bare earth for a floor; and one tiny court, from whose damp 
walls grew ferns and green moss; the sidewalls of the hall 



122 Ada Beeson Farmer 

also green from dampness; festoons of smoky cobwebs 
adorned the ceiling, and withal, a fetid smell that told any 
intruder that it was the abode of tubercular and kindred 
germs. The rent for the place was merely nominal, but 
even that twice as much as a Chinaman would have had to 
pay. At first sight it seemed impossible to make it habitable. 
A man might live in it, but what about a delicate woman? 
Tired and disappointed, the missionary made his way back 
to the inn to pray and revive his fallen hopes. 

We are sure the state of mind produced by house-rent- 
ing or buying in inland China, where one day the soul 
mounts to heaven in anticipation of securing a place, only 
to fall to earth in despair the next day when told that some 
old mother or some brother somewhere, is not willing to 
rent the house to foreigners, is fully appreciated by those 
who have gone through similar, experiences. 

After a few days, while we were walking the streets sell- 
ing Scripture portions and preaching the gospel, an old Hun- 
anese carpenter, who, although from one of the most hos- 
tile provinces of China, showed courtesy to the despised 
foreigner and bought some of his literature. In the course 
of the conversation he found out that a house was wanted 
and later came around to offer us an old wine brewery near 
the riverside, fronting on the main street of the city, but in 
the worst and most dilapidated section of the street. 

We saw that it never could be converted into a residence, 
but there was a possibility for a street chapel by making a 
few changes in the front room of the place, and so agreed 
to take it. However, not without promising to lend the old 
carpenter fifty dollars, which was to be paid back in small 
sums from the rent each month. The trade was agreed 
upon Saturday night, and knowing that if the landlord did 
not receive something in the way of earnest money he would 
be sure to "back out," the Chinese preacher immediately 
wrote out a rent agreement containing the stipulations upon 
which we had agreed and in addition gave the landlord ten 
dollars; he also had him to stamp the agreement with the 
seal of his shop, which in China is a pretty safe guarantee 
for the fulfilment of bargains. Telling him that the next 



Ada Beeson Farmer 123 

day was the Sabbath and no business was transacted by 
Christians on that day, the landlord was dismissed. 

Early Monday morning, almost before we could get up, 
the old landlord was at our door, begging us to take the 
money back and release him from the contract. He alleged 
that the people on the street were going to mob us and pull 
down the little shop he rented to us, defame him and his 
business, and so on. He was assured that he had been 
treated most righteously in the transaction, which he ac- 
knowledged, and that he was no longer responsible for 
the results ; if the house was torn or burned down, it would 
be replaced by another. In true Eastern fashion, he pleaded 
and cried, but the missionary and Chinese preacher felt that 
a foothold had been gained for the gospel, and too much 
was at stake to let go. 

They immediately set about cleaning up and whitewash- 
ing the old shop; ordered benches and a little pulpit to be 
made, giving the order to the landlord, and in a few days 
had gotten rid of a vast amount of filth and dirt, and had 
as a result, a fairly decent room in which to preach. A little 
room at the back of the premises, annually subjected to an 
inundation from the river, was made comfortable enough 
for Chinese preacher, cook, and the foreign missionary; it 
just being large enough to hold three beds and a table. 
When cleaning days were over and the doors open for 
preaching, the crowds, good, bad and indifferent, swarmed 
in to hear the "Jesus doctrine," as the Chinese so often call 
the gospel. A few days passed without trouble from the 
people, although the magistrate of the city had called and 
courteously offered any assistance; he also issued one or 
two proclamations to be posted in the city gates and on the 
door of the chapel, stating we were nice people and who- 
ever molested us would be sure to be punished. 

It is to this shop Mrs. Farmer referred in the last quoted 
entry from her journal. While affording a temporary place 
for men to live and preach in, it was in no sense of the word 
fit for a woman. What was to be done? Would there 
ever be a suitable house secured? About the only thing to 
do at such a time is to watch and pray — especially pray. 



124 Ada Beeson Farmer 

While her husband was busy preaching the gospel at P'ing- 
loh, Mrs. Farmer was doing likewise at Kweilin, and also 
praying. 

[April 24.] Service with Chinese. Mr. and Mrs. Huang waded 
the water to get here. They are the only inquirers. I took the 
women into the house, also Mrs. Huang and the children, and 
taught them several pages in the catechism. 

[April 26.] Chinese women here in afternoon. An old woman 
who had heard the gospel forty years ago, but knew nothing except 
to fear foreigners. May God save this old woman yet! 

[April 27.] Was up late last night and asked the Father to let 
me sleep till six a. m., and exactly at six I awoke. It is just like 
our Father. Great burden for the need at P'ingloh, the whole 
mission, and the women's meeting . . . House was full to overflow, 
at least one hundred women and children. We sang with children 
and then I preached as long as I could. I Tim. ii.5-6. Praise God 
for helping me preach, but how I long to speak like in English. 

[April 28.] Awoke at five-thirty, just when I asked the Father 
to awaken me; had from six to seven for prayer. Letter from my 
husband. Praise God, he was in the chapel! He was not very 
well, and Mr. Uen sick. Such a burden of prayer for a suitable 
house to live in. 

It would seem that in many of Mrs. Farmer's journal 
entries she was concerned too much about little or trivial 
matters, but be it said in her defense that she was exceed- 
ingly careful of how she used all her moments. She felt 
she was responsible for how she spent her time, and at the 
close of the day liked to see a record which showed that the 
hours had not been wasted. 

[May 1, Sunday.] I arose at six a. m., and spent the time till 
English prayers at nine, in prayer and Bible study. I fasted and 
prayed and the Lord seemed so near. He spoke such peace to my 
soul and laid many burdens of prayer upon my heart. Lord, make 
me more like the Lamb that was slain for me. To-day I take a 
new stand, expecting Thee to work Thy mighty works through me. 
Many souls in dark China, — multiply Wilmoth's and my power. 

[May 11.] Not feeling well, so did not get up so early. Had 
a season of prayer and Bible study. English and Chinese prayers. 
The Father gave me, "He that is in you, is greater than He that 
is in the world." It was such strength for body and for the 
meeting. The women began to come before twelve, then on, at 
least a hundred and fifty women and children. I spoke nearly an 
hour. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 125 

[May 13.] Still not well, but woke with these words from the 
Father, "There is victory through the blood of Jesus." My faith 
leaped and I felt sure the Lord's time had come to deliver, but felt 
that I should obey James, and be anointed, and was, at prayers. I 
felt the thrill go through my body and I was healed. Ate dinner, 
and digested food properly for the first time in a whole week. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham, who had charge of the Kwei- 
lin station at this time, had occasion to go to the country for 
an evangelistic trip, and left Mrs. Farmer alone at the 
Christian and Missionary Alliance station, though not alone 
in the city, as there were other missionaries of the Church 
Missionary Society also at Kweilin. 

It is so often said to missionaries by friends in the home 
land, "Oh, you must be so lonely. I do not see how you 
can endure it." Let such as would pity the foreign mis- 
sionary read the following extract from Mrs. Farmer, and 
consider if, after all, a truly consecrated messenger of God 
is not one of the happiest beings on earth. 

[May 15, Sunday.] Everything so quiet; no sound but the voice 
of "My Beloved." I awoke and had a long season of prayer. Break- 
fast, and then sat down to the organ to play and my heart was so 
full of praise. It seemed I had so many special things to praise 
God for; that is, for answering prayer. I broke down and could 
not sing, but my heart overflowed. Here all alone in the heart of 
dark China, God was so real and so near. Praise His dear name! 

[May 27.] Had a letter from Wilmoth stating he had rented a 
residence. I was too rejoiced and thankful but to praise God. 

[May 29.] Too rejoiced to sleep. I woke at three a. m., and 
did not sleep any more until nearly six a. m. Spent much time in 
waking hours in prayer and praise. Prayer that our prayers might 
yet be answered, and that He would go before me every step and pre- 
pare hearts for the gospel message. 

The above reference takes us back to P'ingloh, where we 
find that after at least a month and a half of waiting, look- 
ing and praying, nothing with the exception of the little 
house of Mr. Su's, could be secured as a suitable residence 
in which Mrs. Farmer might live. It can not be denied 
that the heart of the missionary at P'ingloh was full of 
thoughts about the little woman left in Kweilin, and as 
days went by and no house other than this little one could 
be secured, a happy thought came — to go and see again — 



126 Ada Beeson Far m e r 

if it could possibly be made habitable, and used at least for 
a month or so, until prejudice would abate and some one 
else would have courage to rent something better. 

Moreover, the coming of the missionary's wife would 
lift a large load of suspicion which the people of the city 
naturally felt toward a lone man, and would pave the way 
for women and little children to come to the home and hear 
the gospel, whereas they were now mortally afraid of the 
"foreign devil," and ran in and slammed the doors when 
they saw him approaching. 

Most Chinese houses, in Kuangsi at least, are built so 
as to join one another, in many instances neighbors using one 
wall between them, so that it is impossible to get light and 
air from the sides. After a second consideration, it was 
seen that to make a hole sufficiently large in the roof be- 
tween the kitchen and only living-room, and by cutting a win- 
dow in the back wall of the living-room, more air and light 
could find their way into the darkness and damp, provided 
it would not be too much obscured by the ascending smoke 
from the kitchen, as there was no chimney or other outlet 
for it. 

The joy at this project was not any greater at Kweilin 
than at P'ingloh, and the next few days saw the scrubbing 
and whitewash brushes going at a rapid pace, not only in the 
hands of hired Chinese help, but the missionary, too, joined 
in to help make what would be to the newly married couple, 
their first home. 

The city wall of P'ingloh is partly built upon a mountain, 
and, unfortunately, this little house was just at the foot of 
this mountain, so that when it rained and the streams came 
down the mountainsides, because no other tenants were in 
the house, they proceeded to use it, and flowed through the 
hallway which afforded an excellent passage to the lower 
level of the street below. Of course this made the house 
wet and damp underneath, and with no sunshine and air 
it seemed a precarious undertaking to live in it. But love 
and faith are daring and can see nice clean mission com- 
pounds, where natural eyes would only see a little dirty 
hovel. Thank God for the visions of love and faith, for 



Ada Beeson Farmer 127 

they do not remain visions; but in answer to believing 
prayer, become realities! 

After Mrs. Farmer received word about the house she 
did not wait even for our return; but each day, with the 
help of the Chinese servants, packed something, so that 
when we did reach Kweilin we found her about ready to go. 
It did not take very long to get a houseboat and be off. 

Oh, golden and happy hours, when two souls united in 
the will of God set out to do His work and His will ! What 
if the future is unknown? That very fact allures and gives 
inspiration for the tasks that await them. 

Rushing over rapids down the stream it only required 
three days to reach P'ingloh. It was known all over the 
city that the "foreign devil" had gone to Kweilin to bring 
his wife, the "foreign devil woman," to reside at P'ingloh, 
consequently, the whole town was on the qui vive; every- 
body in their shops and residences stood at the door to see 
the strange sight, for Mrs. Farmer was the first white 
woman, as far as we know, to enter the city, and certainly 
the first to reside there. Because of the crowds and to en- 
sure safety for the removal of household goods from the 
boat to the little home, it was thought best to ask for mil- 
itary escort, which was gladly and courteously given and 
several braves dressed in their red coats escorted the mis- 
sionaries and all their possessions into the city and saw them 
safely housed. It was a full and momentous day to Mrs. 
Farmer, and she sums it up in the following words : 

The Lord blessedly heard and answered prayer and gave us the 
boat people to bring our things in. Went by the men's chapel, saw 
where Wilmoth had lived for two months. Then came in the city 
to our house, people all looking. Wilmoth went back to boat; 
woman, Lao Liao and I received the things; had dinner at five 
p. m. Praise God for the poor house and an entrance into the city. 



LORD, SPEAK TO ME 

Lord, speak to me, that I may speak 

In living echoes of Thy tone; 
As thou hast sought so let me seek 

Thy erring children, lost and lone. 

Oh, lead me, Lord, that I may lead 
The wandering and the wavering feet, 

Oh, feed me, Lord, that I may feed 

Thy hungering ones with manna sweet. 

Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach 
The precious things Thou dost impart; 

And wing my words that they may reach 
The hidden depths of many a heart. 

Oh, give Thine own sweet rest to me, 
That I may speak with soothing power 

A word in season, as from Thee, 
To weary ones in needful hour. 

Oh, fill me with Thy fullness, Lord, 

Until my very heart o'erflow 
In kindling thought and glowing word, 

Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show. 

Oh, use me, Lord, use even me, 

Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where; 

Until Thy blessed face I see, 

Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share. 

Frances Ridley Havergal. 



CHAPTER X 

Life and Labors at P'ingloh 



I ask Thee for the daily strength, 

To none that ask denied, 
A mind to blend with outward life, 

While keeping at Thy side ; 
Content to fill a little space, 

If Thou be glorified. 

Anna Waring. 

Ye know from the first day I came into Asia, after what manner 
I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility 
of mind and with many tears and temptations, which befell me by the 
lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was 
profitable unto you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to 
house. — St. Paul. 

HE next day was spent in unpacking and 
making the house as cozy as possible. Al- 
though married but four and a half 
months, Mrs. Farmer soon found out 
that she had more things than house, and 
the problem was; what to use and what 
not to use, and where to store unused ar- 
ticles. Fortunately, a loft overhead served as a plunder 
room to receive the surplus amount of household effects. 

When all was straight and in order, what a wonderful 
house it was! In the front was a small room used by Mrs. 
Farmer for a reception-room, where she met and preached 
to the women; just back of it, was a dark room, lighted by 
one window which was allotted to the servant woman and 
little girl; a tiny court divided this section from the re- 
mainder which consisted of a long room and kitchen at the 
rear; the kitchen being divided from the long room by a 
wall in which a window had been cut; from the front door 
to the kitchen ran a kind of hallway or alley on one side; 
there was no back entrance whatever to the place, so that 




130 Ada Beeson Farmer 

the front door was the place of entrance and exit for all, 
"folks and things" necessary to the ongoing of a house- 
hold. 

The most interesting compartment of the whole place 
was the long room, which in another place has been called 
a living-room, but which term we feel is a misnomer, since 
its use was so various. It was more like the setting of a 
theatrical stage, comprising three distinct scenes. The front 
end of it was fitted up with such articles as made it serve 
as the place for the study, and prayer-meeting room for the 
Christians who were in the house. As the whole front end 
of this was exposed to the gaze of the servant-woman, mak- 
ing privacy almost impossible, a green bamboo curtain hung 
there. The next setting was that of a private bed-room, 
with a curtain dividing it from the study; and last, in the 
rear, was the dining-room. How ingenious and interesting 
to have such a multum in parvof By manipulating the cross 
curtains, any scene or setting suitable to any particular 
phase or progress in the play of life was at once disclosed, 
or the whole might be thrown into one grand effect. As 
most stages have something in the way of water effects, it 
may be added, that this place had all of the beautiful ( ?) 
effect of the mountain stream which flowed down from the 
hill in the back through the hallway, rendering the house 
damp and kitchen so muddy that Mrs. Farmer often had 
to wear her high wooden shoes. 

We are sure that after such a description as the above 
it is apparent that all missionaries do not live in palatial 
homes and pass their time in luxury, as the uninformed 
globe trotters and newspaper reporters sometimes say of 
them. No doubt, too, our readers have already in heart 
felt resentment at the couple for going into such a place, — 
so suffer a few words of justification. 

It was the first permanent entrance of the gospel into a 
heathen city, and was a case of doing the very best one 
could under the circumstances. Money could not remove 
prejudice and persuade the people to lease something bet- 
ter, but a few weeks' residence in their midst would do much 
to remove suspicion. To wait alone, without Mrs. Far- 



Ada Beeson Farmer 131 

mer, might be an indefinite delay, for already two months 
had passed in the quest of a house, besides, deepening sus- 
picion and prejudice against the lonely white man, whose 
intentions, whatever his words might be, would not be 
thought good by the heathen mind. Again, the little house 
was taken only as a means to an end, for the hunt for houses 
was kept up and subsequently rewarded in a few weeks by 
something larger and better. A tremendous point was 
gained when it was seen that the missionaries were in ear- 
nest and had come to stay, no matter how great the diffi- 
culties. 

The men's work was carried on outside the city at the old 
wine shop, which, as we have seen, had been converted into 
a street chapel, and the women's work was carried on at 
the residence by Mrs. Farmer. We shall now revert to 
her diary and see how she met the situation. At this time 
also, she had no Bible-woman to assist her, which makes 
mission work infinitely more difficult, as the Bible-woman 
is an excellent mediator between the foreign missionary and 
the Chinese. 

[June 21.] Wilmoth not well, so read to him the Word, and the 
"Life of James Gilmore." In afternoon the women came for meet- 
ing; for I had by mistake told them this was the day. The room 
full. Men crowded at the door so none could enter. I asked them 
to leave, but they did not. Wilmoth asked them and they would 
not, then he rebuked them. The women very attentive. Preached 
on Christ as almighty. 

It is difficult to attempt to preach to women where the 
men come in, for the social laws of China forbid any such 
promiscuous assembling, and it would soon give a bad repu- 
tation to the chapel, and end in keeping all the women away. 
Even yet in some of the mission stations of South China 
where missionaries have labored for years, there is a divid- 
ing wall, or curtain down the center of each chapel where 
both sexes attend services. Hence it was all the more nec- 
essary not to ride rough shod over social prejudices and cus- 
toms in a perfectly new place. The reader should know, 
too, that the above-mentioned rebuke given to the men who 
tried to crowd in was based upon their common proverb, 

"Nan nii sheo sheo puh t'sin," — "Men and women in re- 



132 Ada Beeson Farmer 

ceiving and giving must not touch each other" — which has 
come to popularly mean, "There is to be no promiscuous 
mingling of the sexes," as in the West. Moreover, it has 
been a charge again and again brought against foreigners 
in China, that they make no social distinctions, but allow 
men and women to sit together in public meetings. This 
slander has acted as a deterrent to keep many high-class 
women from the services. It. was necessary at the outset to 
let the people know that strict rules of decorum would be 
observed in all our social intercourse and religious meet- 
ings. 

[June 22.] Slept late because disturbed by a thief. Rained very- 
hard and roof leaked in many places. Kitchen like two small rivers 
flowing through. Wilmoth still not well, but he helped to fix a plan 
for cook to sleep in loft over us. Also, fixed fastenings on all doors. 
Season of Bible study. "Serpent in wilderness." God gave me a 
message from it for women's meeting. At twelve-thirty the K'eh 
Fang (reception room), was crowded. Went out to preach at one p. 
m. Did not take organ for room was so damp. First crowd, a greater 
part left because I did not have the organ. Others came and as I 
was preaching, three stones were thrown from the back on the roof, 
one going through into San Tsie's room. Some few small pieces of 
tile fell near me, women and children. The Lord kept me from 
all fear. Wilmoth sent to yamen for proclamation. 

[June 23.] Precious lesson from Numbers xxi. God always 
meets us where we need Him most. Praise God, He is real! Wil- 
moth better. Proclamation sent by official was put up. Some women 
came from outside of city in the morning, so went out to see them; 
others came in afternoon but did not remain long and seemed afraid. 
Our neighbor brought several of her friends to see me. Some came 
just at dark, but were afraid and would not sit. Lord, work and 
save these people. 

Houses in Kuangsi are covered with baked tiles loosely 
laid on, so that a stone of any size thrown upon a roof is 
almost like throwing it into a crockery shop. The stones 
in this case were large, but providentially the ones that fell 
through the roof hit no one; had they fallen upon the heads 
of some women or children present, naturally speaking, 
the result to the missionaries would have been serious. 

[June 28.] No women came. Two little girls, one a slave girl, 
and seemed so sad; said her master beat her. Eight men executed 



Ada Beeson Farmer 133 

this afternoon. Did not go to walk. We are surely on the devil's 
territory. Lord, shed the light into some heart. 

Mrs. Farmer's heart ever went out in tender considera- 
tion for that class of Chinese children known as slave girls. 
It was her great desire and prayer that some day she might 
be able to do something to alleviate the sad lot of some of 
them. 

[June 29.] Up at six a. m. Much burdened for the women's 
meeting. At twelve the women began to come and I went out at 
twelve-thirty. The women listened attentively. One old woman 
had heard the gospel in Canton, nine years ago. 

[June 30.] Thought to get house, but failed. The tailor brought 
back my shan (Chinese upper garment) and Wilmoth paid him be- 
fore we examined the work. Neck did not fit. I know I did not 
take it as calmly and joyfully as I should. Lord, keep me calm under 
all circumstances. 

[July 1.] Wilmoth took my shan to tailor. I prayed' while he was 
gone. I fear I was not as composed and restful as a sanctified 
woman should be. Lord, help me to live, "Rejoice evermore, pray 
without ceasing, and in everything give thanks." 

How malignant and unremitting the devil is ! Foiled in 
the miscarriage of his plan for the stone-throwing, he stirred 
up the malicious scandal-mongers to disseminate all kinds 
of vile and wicked stories concerning the foreign mission- 
aries and the chapel, hoping to prevent the attendance of 
the people upon the preaching services. 

[July 2.] Neighbor woman came in and told us what the people 
said, namely, we cut children's eyes out and made medicine, ate men, 
and had cut open the bucket woman, (a woman who came to 
take away the refuse), and had taken baby out of her womb, and so 
on. Wilmoth had a fine opportunity to preach to her and did. Lord, 
save her and remove the fear from these people and cause them to 
come and accept Thy truth. 

In justice to the Chinese it should be said that many of 
the better classes of course know that such talk is all lies, 
but there is a class steeped in superstition and ignorance, 
having ears to hear and hearts to believe almost anything 
but the truth, and, as dealers in slander, are only too glad 
to scatter such reports far and wide. There is also a class, 
who, while not believing such tales, yet are malicious and 
will often write out all of this vile and obscene talk and have 



134 Ada Beeson Farmer 

it posted in the prominent places of the city. Thus, by one 
way and another does Satan try to oppose the work of God. 

[July 13.] Looking out for boats and planning to leave. Women's 
meeting. Room full. 

It had been warm for some time, and now the really hot 
and trying season was upon us, and as customary, we be- 
gan to make preparations to go to the coast for a little 
while to rest and recuperate. Before leaving for vacation 
the earnest prayers and search for another house were re- 
warded by obtaining a much larger dwelling on one of the 
main residence streets of the city. It had a large recep- 
tion room for men and one for women, which made it much 
easier to receive the guests and inquirers who came, besides 
having ampler living quarters. The little house at the foot 
of the mountain had indeed admirably served its purpose; 
for the five weeks spent there did much to remove preju- 
dice, and when it was seen that the missionaries were per- 
manent residents of the city more people were willing to 
rent to them. How true God's order runs through every- 
thing in life! First the bitter then the sweet; agonizing 
prayer, then the answer; toil and sacrifice for a time, and 
then the glorious reward! 

[July 15.] Praise God for house and helping to move and get 
off. 

The vacation days were again spent at Macao. On the 
way to Macao the Sabbath was spent at Canton, at a mis- 
sion station, where Mrs. Farmer attended service Sunday 
morning. How she was cheered and encouraged at the 
sight of so many Chinese worshiping God is told in the fol- 
lowing words : 

We all went to Chinese service. It was so encouraging to see so 
many precious souls saved from sin and idolatry, and it cheered our 
hearts to go on sowing the seed in Kuangsi. 

After a season's rest and pleasant association with fel- 
low-missionaries, August 30, Mrs. Farmer in company with 
her husband and two lady missionaries of another mission, 
left Macao for Wucheo. 

Misses C and B off with us. Blessed opportunity for 

witnessing to them on Sanctification and Divine healing. 






i. Christians at Pingloh. 
Preparing to ascend a rapid. 

3. ( )l T FOR P'lNGLOH. 

4. the street in p'lngloh, on which 

5. River scene near P'ingloh. 

6. Members oe the P'an f \m h.y \t P' 



Ada Beeson Farmer 135 

After making the journey to Wucheo, then up the Fu 
River, September 24, finds them again anchored at P'ingloh 
and in a few days Mrs. Farmer was about her Father's 
business as usual. 

[October 5.] Wilmoth slept late. The Lord heard prayer for 
his eye and healed during the night almost instantaneously. Praise 
to Him ! Bible-woman went out to invite people to come to meet- 
ing. Twenty or twenty-five present. Three wives of one official 
called and were. present at the meeting. 

On Mrs. Farmer's return from vacation, she was able to 
obtain a Bible-woman at Wucheo, who although a Canton- 
ese, could speak enough Mandarin to be understood. She 
was at P'ingloh only a few months, but was faithful while 
there. 

It was the writer's intention to visit all the outlying cities 
governed by P'ingloh, and so October 17, left for one of 
these book-selling and itinerant preaching tours. Never 
did Mrs. Farmer's heroic and sacrificial spirit shine more 
lustrously than at such a time. While it meant that she 
would be left alone in a large heathen city, with no other 
white person nearer her than a hundred and fifty miles, and 
no friends except the Chinese Christians and helpers, who 
at that time were those of her own household, yet she never 
quailed, and was willing to undergo anything for Christ's 
sake- and the gospel. 

[October 17.] Finished getting Wilmoth's things packed. We 
then went to our room and committed each other and the work 
to God. Eight a. m. he and Lao Liao left for the country for two 
weeks. It was hard, yet I gladly saw him go for my blessed Savior 
who suffered all for us. 

In a letter to her brother she also refers to this time of 
being left alone : 

I have heard from only two of you since I last wrote, brother and 
Malcom. Brother's came when Mr. Farmer left me for a two 
weeks' itineration and book-selling trip. I have been alone almost 
two weeks in this heathen city, with no foreigner nearer than 
one hundred and fifty miles, except Mr. Farmer, and I would not 
know where to find him if I tried. But it has been such a precious 
time, for the Lord has been so near and real to me, and there is 
nothing to fear. He is the Almighty One. We have a safe house, 
and the Bible-woman and her little girl, my servant woman and 



136 Ada Beeson Farmer 

her little girl, are here in the same building with me, while the 
Chinese preacher and our personal teacher are living at the men's 
chapel outside the city. I am expecting Mr. Farmer back to-morrow 
or next day. I had a note from him last Saturday, that was sent 
by a man coming to this place, for there are no post offices out that 
way. He had had fine sales for his books thus far, and the Lord 
was blessing in spirit. 

Of course I have missed him, but I am willing to suffer these little 
things for the One who suffered so much for me. The Chinese 
preacher carries on the work at the men's chapel and holds the Sun- 
day services and Wednesday night prayer-meetings. I play the organ. 
Now, I imagine I hear you all laugh, and I join in a little; but as 
the Chinese have no idea at all of music, none would know whether 
I played right or not, so it gives me confidence. 

Beyond a doubt one of the great secrets of Mrs. Far- 
mer's beautiful Christian life was that of prayer. She was 
a faithful intercessor. 

[October 22.] I woke at four a. m. Had a long time of prayer 
and meditation. Such a burden to see fruits of repentance in those 
studying the gospel. — (Later in the day.) — Spent nearly two hours 
in prayer, so burdened for the Satan-bound Chinese; only God's 
mighty power can break the chains, but He can. 

[October 25.] Five high-class women came with their servants 
and slave girls. We talked to them; they bought three catechisms 
and other tracts. Bless the word! 

During the latter part of October, a large party of mis- 
sionaries arrived from America and as the annual confer- 
ence had been deferred until their arrival it was now called 
at Wucheo. It seemed hard to interrupt the work, but in 
obedience to a telegram summoning us to Wucheo, we left 
P'ingloh November 1, traveling in the mail boat, which was 
a little "sampan" affair, hardly big enough for two, al- 
though four of us crowded into it. The waves on the rapids 
dashed in and wet clothes and bedclothing, and one time, 
through carelessness of the boatman, the little boat ran into 
a big rock in mid-stream and came near being upset. 

The conference at Wucheo was one long to be remem- 
bered, as it was a time of joy and sorrow, and also marked 
by a new and aggressive movement towards the evangeliza- 
tion of the Mandarin-speaking section of Kuangsi. The ar- 
rival from America of several old missionaries, together 
with eight new recruits, caused the hearts of all to rejoice 



Ada Beeson Farmer 137 

to welcome them to the field. But in the midst of their joy, 
Miss Campbell, the teacher of the girls' school in Wucheo, 
was called to her heavenly home. The mission felt the loss 
keenly, for she was a most godly and efficient worker; but, 
as is so often the case, the death of a dear comrade means 
a call to a deeper consecration and effort on the part of 
those still left behind; so it was in this case. The unreached 
portions of the province appealed as never before to the 
conference. More extensive itineration and investigation 
had revealed the fact, that the Mandarin-speaking por- 
tions of Kuangsi, were indeed destitute of the gospel and 
that something must be done for them. 

A paper read by one of the missionaries on the subject 
had powerful effect, and the little body of Christians was 
stirred to prayer and plans. The result was that four of 
the new missionaries felt that God was calling them to the 
needy Mandarin-speaking district, and so chose that field 
of labor. No one rejoiced over this more than Mrs. Far- 
mer, for it had long been the desire of her heart and her 
prayers, so that when the conference came to a close and 
two young men were appointed to P'ingloh to study the 
Mandarin language, her joy knew no bounds. 

Just a month had been spent away from P'ingloh and the 
missionaries found on their return more friendliness and 
good will on the part of the people, and as a better house 
had been secured, all were soon settled in their respective 
spheres of labor. The two new brethren living in the loft 
across the court from the old missionaries, fairly made the 
whole place ring with their Chinese tones as they followed 
the teacher in the strange sounds of the language. 

As the mind dwells upon those happy days spent at P'ing- 
loh, the eyes fill with tears and we will not pause to narrate 
at length all the events that transpired, but say in a word, 
that they were days of hard work for all on the station, 
and filled with much love and fellowship in the Lord Jesus, 
and prayer. Mrs. Farmer was an ideal mother to the young 
missionaries and her many kindnesses and sacrifices for 
their comfort and well-being were truly appreciated by 
them. In life's galaxy of golden hours, the time spent at 



138 Ada Beeson Farmer 

P'ingloh with those dear brethren, all mutually sharing each 
other's joys, difficulties, and sorrows, will ever be one of 
the brightest. 

As we draw near to the close of 1904, we can not do bet- 
ter than to quote from one of Mrs. Farmer's letters home, 
in which she describes the Christmas season and how it was 
spent. 

My Precious Ones at Home: 

These past days my thoughts have been with you, for the Christmas 
time always makes me think of how we used to spend it together, 
and while doing the baking of cakes for Christmas, it being my first 
in our own home, it made the old home-life more real. This first 
Christmas in our own little home in far-off China has been a happy 
one. It is the first Christmas Mr. Farmer and I have ever been 
together, and it has been such a blessed one in so many ways. 

You know we have the two young men boarding with us, and 
then Mr. and Mrs. Child of the Church Missionary Society, also 
Doctor Sanger of the same mission, reached here Friday noon on their 
way up the river to Kweilin. The Childs were married in No- 
vember and are now on their way to their work. We did not expect 
them until Saturday, consequently, were not quite ready for them. 
But Mr. Child remained on the boat and sent his servant up to tell 
us that they had arrived. While Mr. Farmer went down for them 
I got the room ready and other things in order, gave orders to the 
cook for more dinner, for he was then setting the table, and was 
ready to meet them. It reminded me so much of some experiences at 
the dear old home, when we were there in the summer, and some 
one else came to see us. 

We did not have a turkey, nor did we have cranberry sauce; but 
the cake was a success, and everything passed off very nicely from 
that standpoint, and we had a good time together. I was so glad 
to do something for the Church Missionary Society people, for they 
have been so nice to Messrs. Farmer and Cunningham while there in 
Kweilin, and to me while Mr. Farmer was opening up this station. 

Christmas coming on Sunday made it seem less like Christmas, 
for I had the fowls baked the day before, also the Christmas pudding, 
and that much was cold. We had two Chinese services that day and 
one English service besides our morning prayers, which altogether 
took up a good part of the day. The company left us Monday morn- 
ing and then we invited the Chinese preacher and the Bible-woman 
to have dinner with us that day. The preacher came, but the Bible- 
woman said she did not know how to eat foreign food and use the 
knife and fork, so declined. 

We had real Christmas weather, for we were awakened Saturday 
morning by the sleet falling on the tile roof. It did not remain on 



Ada Beeson Farmer 139 

the ground, but it made everything look more "Christmasy" than if 
it had not been cold. We tried to find holly but the boy could not, 
though he found some red berries that looked very much like it, only 
the leaves were not holly leaves. 

We gave each one a little remembrance of the day, and our guests 
gave us a pretty calendar, a photo of the Child's wedding party, and 
some candies. Mr. Farmer gave me two pretty Chinese pots of 
Lilies. We gave all the Chinese in the house a plate of fruit cake 
and nuts. I forgot to say we made our candies for Christmas, and 
they were very nice, too. We trust by another Christmas to be in 
a larger and more comfortable place for us and the work. Mr. 
Farmer and I have been married eleven months now and we are 
feeling quite like old married people, since we have the two young 
men with us, and so much company of late. 

In another letter written a day later, she says : 

And for the money, it came in a time of special need, and in direct 
answer to prayer, which makes it doubly precious to us. We are 
trusting God for everything and when God so directly meets these 
special needs it draws us so close to Him and makes us know that you 
are living close enough to Him that He can tell you about such need. 
What a precious Savior is Jesus, my Lord ! I would not give this 
life of perfect trust for anything in exchange, any position the world 
or the church could give. 

In order that we may appreciate the paragraph just 
quoted we will have to tell of something else that trans- 
pired Friday morning at the time of the arrival of our 
guests. It was this : We had spent all the money we pos- 
sessed, and while there were canned goods and other pro- 
visions in the larder, yet there was no money to buy fowls, 
fresh vegetables, water, charcoal, wood, and many other 
things necessary to convert the articles of the pantry into 
an edible condition. Here were guests who were members 
of another mission, very dear friends, from whom in the 
past we had been recipients of much kind hospitality, and 
to make the occasion of greater importance still, it was the 
honeymoon trip of two of the party, and Christmas besides. 
It was of all times, one at which a host and hostess should 
honor their guests with more than ordinary courtesy. How 
embarrassing it would be not to do this! What could be 
done? Borrow they would not, for that would be an in- 
fringement of a rule they had agreed never to violate, be- 



140 Ada Beeson Farmer 

lieving to "owe no man anything" was more scriptural and 
far better than to be involved in debt. 

Prayer to a loving Father who knows every need and 
circumstance of His children is ever the resource in time 
of difficulty and perplexity. Humbly submitting the mat- 
ter to Him and telling Him, if personal pride was in the 
way and it was best to thus humble them by not letting them 
carry out the plans they desired, His will be done. 

The guests were duly received and had scarcely been 
seated in the little study when the postman brought in a let- 
ter bearing an American postmark. Eagerly opening it, 
we found a check for thirty dollars, American money, which, 
when exchanged for Chinese currency, amounted to sixty- 
odd dollars ! There was no more solicitude about the 
needed articles for Christmas dinner, and it was also an 
easy matter to provide some gift for each one, suitable for 
the occasion. It is needless to add that the first opportunity 
for the host and hostess to be alone was spent up under 
the tiles in the loft, in a real thanksgiving service, of which 
to this day the guests know nothing. Thus the Christmas 
of 1904 was made in the words of Mrs. Farmer, "doubly 
precious to us." 



SOWING AND REAPING 

Sow with a generous hand ; 

Pause not for toil or pain ; 
Weary not through the heat of summer, 

Weary not through the cold spring rain, 
But wait till the autumn comes 

For the sheaves of golden grain. 

Scatter the seed, and fear not, 

A table will be spread; 
What matter if you are too weary 

To eat your hard-earned bread ! 
Sow while the earth is broken, 

For the hungry must be fed. 

Sow; — while the seeds are lying 

In the warm earth's bosom deep, 
And your warm tears fall upon it, 

They will stir in their quiet sleep ; 
And the green blades rise the quicker, 

Perchance, for the tears you weep. 

Then sow ; — for the hours are fleeting, 

And the seed must fall to-day; 
And care not what hands shall reap it, 

Or if you shall have passed away 
Before the waving cornfields 

Shall gladden the sunny day. 

Sow; and look onward, upward, 

Where the starry light appears, 
Where in spite of the coward's doubting, 

Or your own heart's trembling fears, 
You shall reap in joy the harvest 

You have sown to-day in tears. 

Adelaide A. Proctor. 



CHAPTER XI 

Further Labors and Fruit at P'ingloh. Events of 
1905 

Let us, then, be up and doing, 

With a heart for any fate; 
Still achieving, still pursuing, 

Learn to labor and to wait. 

Longfellow. 

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall 
reap if we faint not. — St. Paul. 

RS. Farmer always at the beginning of each 
New Year looked definitely to the Lord 
for some verse or passage of Scripture 
which would set the keynote of her life 
for the year. We find under January 1, 
1905, "Be Ye Holy for I am Holy," and 
each word doubly underscored. God did 
most graciously fulfil these words in her daily walk and 
life. 

She was unremitting and tireless in the prosecution of her 
witnessing for the Lord. There are possibly no streets or 
lanes in the city of P'ingloh in which her glad feet did not 
walk, bringing the tidings of salvation. By the door of 
the little straw-thatched mud hut, or in the reception par- 
lors of the wealthy Chinese, surrounded by a coterie of 
women and children, she could be seen almost any day, 
faithfully telling them of the Lord who loved them and gave 
Himself for them. 

Pioneer mission work is always hard, and results are 
seen in most cases, only after years of earnest effort and 
prayer. There must be an abundant sowing of the gospel 
seed by voice, Scripture portions, tracts, etc., before there 
can come anything like a harvest. It takes a spirit of pa- 
tience and a far-seeing faith to go into new territory and 



. 



1 44 Ada Beeson Farmer 

there toil on from day to day. "To be steadfast, immova- 
ble, always abounding in the work, of the Lord," and also 
to believe that "the labor is not in vain in the Lord." The 
true test of missionary discipleship is found not in the con- 
spicuous place of leadership or prominence on the mission 
field, but in the daily plod, and, in many instances, monoto- 
nous routine of mission life, which is the lot of the vast 
majority of missionary workers. 

Mrs. Farmer had in an eminent degree the virtues of 
earnestness, patience, plod, far-seeing faith, and, above all, 
such a love for Jesus Christ that though had she never seen 
any visible results of her mission labors, she would have con- 
tinued faithful to the end and asked no greater encomium 
than, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" from 
her Master and Lord. While she did not live long enough 
to see large results of her hard pioneer life, yet God, who 
knows how to cheer and encourage those who are faithful 
to Him, let her see souls won for Christ, mission work be- 
gun in new cities, buildings erected, and blessings dispersed 
to many at home and abroad through her glorious life of 
prayer and service. 

After her residence in P'ingloh for a few months, her 
kindly disposition soon dispelled the fear of the women and 
children and doors which at first had been slammed in her 
face were now opened and she was given a hearty welcome 
by rich and poor. We have already remarked upon her 
great love for children, and so one feature of her mission 
work was to always hold a children's meeting every Fri- 
day afternoon, at which she taught them to sing simple gos- 
pel hymns, memorize Scripture verses, and pray with them. 
They loved her and wherever she went in the city would 
call out her name, "Hua Si' Nai," (Mrs. Flower — her 
Chinese name), as she passed along the streets. 

Soon after coming to P'ingloh, Mrs. Farmer made the ac- 
quaintance of a very wealthy, high-class family, whose name 
was P'an. Some of the family had heard the gospel in Can- 
ton and elsewhere, and were very glad to listen. She 
speaks of them in a letter, and as it gives a good picture of 



Ada Beeson Farmer 145 

Chinese life, as well as mission work and its difficulties, we 
quote this letter just as it appears : 

I wrote you before we left for our vacation about visiting a high- 
class family. Well, one is the daughter of an official, and since re- 
turning I have been to see the widows of that official. They are 
wealthy and have one of the nicest houses in P'ingloh. The wives, 
(two of them can read and the daughter can read), have bought 
some tracts and are looking into the gospel. They have been to 
see me three or four times before going down in the summer and 
twice since we returned, and have a real good insight into the gospel 
for heathen women. Last Thursday afternoon I called there; the 
Bible-woman and I talked the gospel off and on for two hours. On 
Sunday I heard that the sixth wife, (originally there were seven), 
was real sick. I dared not go for fear it would be said the foreigners 
caused her death; but the Bible-woman called to ask about her. She 
was not admitted to the house, but learned that a fortune teller, 
(China is full of them), had told her that this month she would die, 
and, of course, she thought it must be so. The last I heard from 
her she had taken opium to kill herself. Poor suffering humanity! 
May the Lord quickly gather out His bride and come and rule! 
"Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." Pray for the family, they have 
been so much on my heart; there are only three out of the seven 
wives living at present. 

What such homes are like we have little idea ; but this we do know, 
there is no love, no joy, no real happiness. The little girls all have 
bound feet and the youngest, who is five years old, was engaged the 
other day to some one she perhaps will never see till the day she is 
taken to his mother's house to be his slave, and the servant of his 
mother. How these people need Christ, and yet how difficult it is 
to make them know that is what they need ! Nothing but the 
mighty power of God, with faithful witnessing and much prayer 
by us here and you at home, will cause them to see their great and 
awful need, and the only remedy, Christ. So pray first, the Lord of 
the harvest to thrust forth laborers into the field ; pray for us here, 
and pray for these poor people, that the Lord may enter their hearts. 

We well remember to what earnest intercessory prayer 
Mrs. Farmer gave herself when she heard of how Satan 
had tried to make this poor woman suicide, and we have 
felt that her prayers had no little to do with the recovery 
of the woman, for it was her chief petition that God would 
spare her yet to believe. How often after that she said 
that she did believe and wanted to become a true Christian, 
but as is the case with so many at present in China, her high 
social position and Chinese customs are still preferred 



146 Ada Beeson Farmer 

rather than the scorn and persecution of allying herself with 
the Christian church. 

Mrs. Farmer, like all truly saintly souls, had an humble 
opinion of herself. Commenting on the first year of her 
married life, she says: 

So much to praise God for in this year, and I feel I have accom- 
plished so little for Him. Still, Lord, I have tried to be faithful. 
Lord, this year, grant my life to please Thee. I want to keep my 
eyes fixed and kept on Thee, getting Thy mind at each juncture and 
praise Thee continually. I want to make a better wife. 

She was of such a genial and condescending disposition 
that all who came in contact with her felt the spell of her 
personality. 

The magistrate stationed at P'ingloh during the year of 
1905, was very kind to the mission and his wife became 
quite friendly to Mrs. Farmer; so much so, that she invited 
the latter to eat the Spring Feast with her at the official 
residence. Mrs. Farmer feeling it was an unusual oppor- 
tunity to witness the gospel to people of that class, accepted 
the invitation. The particulars of that occasion and also 
of the meal which she returned to the little T'ai T'ai, is 
given in a letter to her sister-in-law, who with some other 
ladies in America, had only recently had a missionary after- 
noon at which they dressed in costumes of the various na- 
tions. She says: 

While you people are playing at missions and wearing the Chinese 
and Japanese dress we are having the reality of it here, and I dare say, 
we have greater pleasure and more real joy in it here, though it may 
be a little harder, than you people do there. There is no joy like giv- 
ing the bread of life to these people who have never heard the name 
of Jesus; and if there is so much joy here now, what will it be when 
we are brought face to face with our God and see the precious souls 
that have been saved from eternal punishment because we followed 
Him here and brought them our Christ? How short and fleeting this 
life is! I want to press in all the service for my Master that I can. 
If I can only hear Him say, "She hath done what she could," I will 
be satisfied. 

The Lord has so changed the attitude of the people towards us 
here and has given us access to the lowest and highest in the city. 
We feel that wearing the Chinese dress and mingling with the peo- 
ple as we do has done much toward it, and I praise God that He 
ever led us to wear the Chinese dress. Wilmoth and I have had 



Ada Beeson Farmer 147 

many visitors this New Year season, and we have made many visits, 
and of course, have had opportunity to witness to them. 

The Hsien official's wife invited me to a feast and I at first de- 
clined, but the invitation was repeated and she insisted so that we 
thought it best to go, and I am glad I did. Of course, one of that 
rank had things done in style, (Chinese style), as a governor at home 
would do. Still it lacked much of refinement and the women, though 
of high rank, are ignorant from our standpoint. I went in a sedan 
chair and had our door-boy, who has been a yamen runner, and 
knows just what to do, go in front and carry my card, and my ser- 
vant woman follow my chair. I was carried through the court and 
one or two reception rooms, back just in front of the women's re- 
ception room, which is always in the rear. The T'ai T'ai, for that 
is what an official's wife is called, stepped out to meet me. I got 
out and went in; she bowed, kneeling on the mat, and I did likewise; 
then I was ushered to my seat, I trying to sit in the low seat, and 
she urging me to the high seat. After being seated, her servant and 
slave girl came and bowed, and then tea was immediately brought; 
we sipped that and when I wished her husband peace, according to 
Eastern custom, she went for him and he came out and knelt and 
bowed to me, and I did the same; then a bowl of cooked lotus-lily 
seed was brought in and we ate that. She invited me to go to her 
private bed-room, where the other guests were and where we were 
entertained. There the table was set with sweet meats of several 
kinds and tea was again brought. We sat and chatted, I doing the 
best I could with my limited Chinese. I had some little opportuni- 
ty to preach to them. A bowl of noodles was brought for each of 
us and eaten with chop-sticks. 

At five-thirty dinner was announced. I was the guest of honor, 
and so ushered out first. I resisted some, according to Chinese cus- 
tom, but not so much as they do. We all stood in the reception 
room where we were to eat and the man who had charge, the chief 
butler, stood outside and called out the names, mine first. The T'ai 
T'ai receiving from the servant the chop-sticks, laid them down 
where I was to sit, and where a paper with watermelon seed was 
placed. The hostess then held up the chop sticks, called my name 
and made a very graceful bow and laid them down; then, the cup 
for wine and a small bowl and Chinese spoon. She then took hold 
of the chair and made a deep bow; each time I bowed too. She did 
the same for each one, and then one of the guests took hers, and did 
that for her, and when the time came to be seated there was a 
scramble about not taking the high seat. I did less than they, for 
I was a foreigner, and it seemed so empty; but when the turn of 
the lady of second honor came she pulled back so that they had to 
almost literally put her in the seat. 

It was a black polished table with no cloth or napkins ; some meats 
were already on the table; all was served in courses, and each course 



148 Ada Beeson Farmer 

meat, except one of cooked fruit and one of sponge cake; no bread 
of course; and the rice was served by itself, and finally, tea. We 
were at the table from five-thirty to seven-thirty. As very few 
dishes were removed, the table was full of bowls and small round 
plates similar to our saucers, with meats and stuff on the table where 
they had been dropped. My not drinking wine gave me an op- 
portunity to witness to them. I forgot to say that each guest's ser- 
vant and the slaves, who stood at their backs, occasionally served the 
water pipe, and they all smoked. It all seemed so coarse from our 
point of view. 

After dinner we went again to the T'ai T'ai's room and had more 
tea while our servants ate. She gave each servant ten cents, and my 
door-boy twenty cents. As soon as the first guest left, I saw how it 
was done and made my departure. Mr. Farmer was getting uneasy 
about me, I think, and the cook was standing out in the street with a 
lamp looking for me. I wish you could have seen the beautiful and 
gorgeous clothes. I can not describe them; but they were of beauti- 
ful silk embroidered in silk and gold. The guests had on their official 
beads and outer garments which they took off after getting in her 
private room, hostess and all. 

Well, according to Chinese custom, I had to return the feast, so, 
last Tuesday afternoon I had them here. I had our Chinese teacher 
write the invitations and sent them according to Chinese etiquette. 
The women came in pairs, with soldiers, red umbrellas, etc. The 
soldiers lined up on each side of the door and the little slave girls 
came in first, and then the women behind. It was quite a pretty sight 
and great style for our little house. They came in our women's re- 
ception room, one at a time, knelt and bowed, and I did likewise ; 
then they handed the invitations I had sent them to me and bowed 
again for the same. 

I had fine opportunity to preach the gospel to them, for I played 
the organ and had the two little girls in the house sing, and I ex- 
plained the meaning of the hymns and led out from that, and then 
the Bible-woman took it up. They were very curious to see our for- 
eign things and it was not hard to entertain them. 

We had a foreign meal, and of course we got up a nice one much 
cheaper than we could have a Chinese meal. I had out my prettiest 
linen and embroidered centerpiece and had the table looking fairly 
well, — pretty compared with theirs. Everything was very curious 
to them, for only one had ever eaten a foreign meal or seen bread 
before. I had made some nut creams, had almonds, walnuts, figs, 
etc., most of which were new to them. They had no manners, ac- 
cording to our way of thinking, for the first thing they did was to 
wrap up things in their handkerchiefs to carry home, and did many 
other things that lacked real refinement. The Lord has given us 
access to the highest and lowest for which we praise Him, and now 
we are looking to Him for souls. 




i. A Chinese Jink. 

\ TEMPLE AT P'lNGLOH. 

3 and 5. Si enes on the Fv 

I \ MEMOR] \i. m-' 11. 

6 \ wealths Chinaman's 

: \ I 01 vim SED \N CH \ik. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 149 

My servant woman and her fourteen-year-old daughter are about 
ready for baptism, and we have some few earnest enquirers. Pray 

for us. I am glad that the church is going to 

support a missionary this year, but doubtless there are individual 
members in that church who could support one if they would only 
do their duty. So many of our missionaries on the field are thus sup- 
ported, and some men and women at home have from one to three 
representatives on the foreign field. God will reward such giving as 
that. They will have souls in foreign fields saved through them, al- 
though they have never gone to the field themselves. 

April 16, 1905, was a red-letter day at P'ingloh, as the 
first baptismal service was held on that day. Mrs. Far- 
mer's joy knew no bounds, and she describes the day as fol- 
lows: 

Prepared for the baptismal service; at three-thirty left here. The 
men went by the chapel and we women went by the north gate to the 
small river; the two boats were there; we sang and had prayer. 
Wilmoth and Brother Oldfield went in, then Mr. Kin was bap- 
tized, afterwards, San Tsie, and then Ta Mei. I led the singing; 
while they were changing clothes, brother Chang spoke a while and 
we sang. God only knows what joy I had, — three souls saved ; 
came back and rested. Supper, and then Brother Jaffray preached 
on Acts. Wilmoth received the three into the church, and while 
asking them if they would give their money to support the church, 
San Tsie said, "Yes, I will give a tenth," and she does. Then we 
partook of the Holy Communion. What blessing and joy to see 
souls come out from heathen darkness to gospel light! 

Soon after Mrs. Farmer came to P'ingloh, she, on one of 
her daily visitations, was invited to a very mean and lowly 
place where she met a woman about forty years of age, 
called Mrs. Kong. She was an opium smoker, and yet not 
so far gone but that she had a desire to quit it. She 
knew a few characters and from the very first was eager 
to hear the gospel. We have often heard Mrs. Farmer tell 
of how Mrs. Kong got her little stool and sat down in 
front of her and listened to every word of that life and 
death which have brought peace and deliverance to the 
countless multitudes who have believed and trusted in it. 
Mrs. Farmer gave her a gospel of John which she avid- 
iously read through, her little son and husband helping her; 
the latter, also, an opium smoker. Soon she began to at- 
tend the meetings for women and Mrs. Farmer went quite 



150 Ada Beeson Farmer 

regularly to the dirty little home to teach her. The cate- 
chism she learned quite readily and made splendid progress 
in every way except in the matter of leaving off opium. 
She was told, and made to see, that in order to become a 
true Christian, she would have to give up this dreadful 
habit. 

At first she tried to quit at her own home, but Mrs. Far- 
mer soon found this would not do, although she did lessen 
the amount of opium she smoked daily. Mrs. Farmer, 
feeling that she could do far better if Mrs. Kong were 
nearer where she could watch her, not allowing her to go 
out of the house, praying with and teaching her how to rely 
upon Christ when the temptation and craving came, invited 
her to come and live a month at the mission home with the 
Bible-woman. Mrs. Kong gladly accepted the invitation, 
but with the understanding that she would be closely 
watched, not being allowed to go out by herself, for fear 
she would get opium, and also that she was to be given 
some light work like sewing, etc., to help pay for her food 
while at the chapel. 

Mrs. Farmer felt the heavy responsibility of this under- 
taking, for, as is often the case, sickness and complications 
of all kinds arise. Mrs. Kong was no exception, for as 
soon as deprived of the pipe, which Mrs. Farmer insisted 
upon having turned over to her, she became weak and sick 
and suffered when the craving for the drug came upon her. 
At such times Mrs. Farmer would go to the little room 
where she and the Bible-woman would pray with Mrs. 
Kong and point her to Jesus Christ as one who could save 
to the uttermost. 

[May 16.] Read with Mrs. Kong and had good talk with her. 
I believe she is truly saved and about free from opium. 

After spending a month or more at the chapel she was 
allowed to return home, being most graciously delivered 
from opium, saved, and blessed. She became a fearless 
witness in her home to what God had done for her and it 
was not long before her husband also accepted Christ and 
gave up his opium. Mrs. Kong did not hide her light un- 
der a bushel; but boldly declared what God had done for 



Ada Beeson Farmer 151 

her. As she was well known in the city, she scattered the 
good news wherever she went, and at times when Mrs. Far- 
mer was without a Bible-woman, did efficient service in 
helping her to reach the women of P'ingloh. She was not 
ashamed of the gospel of Christ, nor to be seen walking 
the streets with the "foreign devil woman." 

Before Mrs. Kong had heard the gospel she had be- 
trothed her little daughter to a heathen and had already- 
sent her to his mother's home. One of the first things she 
did after she was saved was to pray earnestly to God to 
help her in some way save the little girl from marrying 
this man. God heard her prayers, and it was not long before 
the girl was brought back home and sent to Wucheo Train- 
ing School, where she became a Christian and is taking the 
course of studies to become a teacher or Bible-woman. The 
last we heard other members of the family were enquir- 
ing into the gospel. 

[May 19.] Very good children's meeting but disturbed, first by 
baby; chicken; baby; man and chicken. The Lord knows I did 
my best. I leave it with Him. 

The Chinese know nothing of decorum and reverence in 
a public meeting such as is observed by Westerners, and 
the above remark by Mrs. Farmer about being so disturbed 
while trying to teach the children reminds us of the disturb- 
ance of a Wednesday night prayer-meeting, which is ludi- 
crous as well as characteristic of the Chinese. 

In the midst of the service a very large rat ran out into 
the room in full view of all. It was too tempting a bait for 
a Chinese Christian, and immediately and almost 
simultaneously the congregation arose and chased the rat, 
stamping and banging at it with bamboo sticks, or anything 
else that came handy. In a few moments the servant- 
woman was successful in catching it and putting it away 
safely for the night. Soon all were in their seats again and 
quite as devout and serene as if nothing had happened and 
the service went on. The next day, San Tsie and her little 
daughter did not need to go to the market for meat for 
their breakfast, as the "prayer-meeting rat" was just as 
savory as anything they cared for, and if they had been 



152 Ada Beeson Farmer 

given a chance in prayer-meeting to testify, we should not 
have been surprised to hear them thank the Heavenly 
Father for the rat, which was almost as unexpectedly, and 
certainly quite as conveniently given them as the quails of 
old to the Israelites. 

[June 8.] Last night the second wife of one of the principal 
merchants jumped into the river and drowned herself. Poor creature, 
the first wife had beaten her. 

Another sad case was that of a woman just next door to 
the men's chapel. Mrs. Farmer had often preached the 
gospel to her, and while kindly disposed and attentive, yet 
ruled and domineered by a wicked husband, she could only 
be courteous. As the result of some domestic or other 
troubles, she one day swallowed a big dose of strychnine. 
Her people did all they could to save her life; but she died 
without God and without hope. 

Oh, my Christian sisters, you who enjoy the love and re- 
spect of your father, brother and husband; you who have 
all the glorious privileges accorded you by Christianity, are 
you under no obligation to your sisters of the East? Do 
you pray for them? Do you give of your means for the 
spread of the gospel among them? Are you willing to go 
to them with the message of salvation? Remember, it 
is not a question of merely ameliorating their present con- 
dition, but it is to take them Jesus Christ, and thereby make 
it possible for them to be saved. If you Christian women 
of the West do not do this work it will not be done, and 
God will require their souls at your hands. 

The social fabric of the East is such that unless you 
women take the word of life to them they will die in their 
sin and hopelessness; for we men can not reach these women 
in their seclusion. In Christ Jesus "there is neither Jew nor 
Greek; there is neither bond nor free; there is neither male 
nor female," but all are precious souls for whom Christ 
died. Souls that are as dear to His heart as you or I. To 
us, his followers, has been committed the message of life 
for those who sit in heathen darkness, never having heard 
of a Savior. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 153 

Picture to yourself your own or another's happy home 
in America. Look at the mutual respect and love of hus- 
band and wife; see the happy children playing about their 
knees, and think of the ten thousand blessings which we 
have not space to enumerate; at last, look at them at the 
close of life, with what peace, joy, and certainty of a glo- 
rious resurrection and eternal happiness they resign their 
souls to God. Then compare all of this with what you have 
read in the foregoing paragraphs, in which not half has 
been told. Are these blessings and privileges which have 
cost the blood of the Son of God to be held so lightly and 
selfishly that you feel you owe no debt to your sisters in 
the East? If Christ is no more than that to you it is a 
question as to whether you are His. 

One great object in writing this life of Mrs. Farmer is 
that her heroic and self-denying efforts in behalf of the 
Chinese women may appeal to the hearts of the women of 
America and other Christian countries, to lay their lives in 
glad consecration upon God's altar for service in the Chi- 
nese Empire. 

As the hot weather was now coming on, the lofts in 
which the missionaries lived were becoming unbearable on 
account of little ventilation (which could not be remedied) 
and the hot tiles overhead. Something had to be done. There 
was only one living-room downstairs which had served as 
a study and general meeting-room for the missionaries, and 
back of it a small dining-room divided from it by a wooden 
partition. In the hot, damp weather of spring, even the 
best of ventilated rooms in South China are not always 
comfortable; so, in order to get a through breeze, which 
even then would be laden with smell and smoke from the 
kitchen (as the little opening of the back court was too 
small to afford sufficient draught to carry off such obnoxious 
fumes), it was necessary to take down the wooden parti- 
tion, making the dining-room and study into one, and oc- 
cupy it as a living-room, and not a large one at that. But 
be it large or small, it could not accommodate a married 
couple and two young men. They could not all occupy one 
room. What was to be done? The brethren, while need- 



154 Ada Beeson Farmer 

ing the facility afforded at P'ingloh for language study, yet 
felt the only solution was for them to return to Wucheo 
and do the best they could until the hot summer was over 
and let the married couple have the one room, as they were 
in charge of the station work and would have to remain at 
P'ingloh. 

Mrs. Farmer, with true self-denial so characteristic of 
her, prepared by means of a curtain, another little place 
just back of the women's reception-room, which was large 
enough only to hold a bed; but which would serve as a 
sleeping apartment for her and her husband while the larger 
room could be given to the new missionaries, as they had 
not been in China long and were not so well acclimated. 
Although the little sleeping-place was damp and poorly 
lighted, and afforded no privacy at all, yet by using the old 
upstairs room in the loft as a dressing room early in the 
morning and at night, all would have a place to sleep on 
the ground floor; which, while it was not a good thing to 
do, was more preferable than being baked and smothered 
under the hot tiles of the loft. Naturally, the brethren 
were not willing for such an arrangement, since it put Mrs. 
Farmer in such an inconvenient and unsanitary place, but 
she well knew the difficulty of trying to learn Mandarin in 
a Cantonese-speaking city, and was only too glad to do 
anything to prolong the stay of the young men at P'ingloh, 
that they might have better facilities for study. 

The poor accommodations of the house, the hot weather 
and the annual conference, which always convenes in mid- 
summer, were incentives enough to cause the little crowd to 
leave P'ingloh for a month or so. 

After conference Mrs. Farmer went to Macao where 
she spent one of the happiest of vacations at the home of 
some very dear friends. We have before noted her love 
and devotion to her parents. Under September 5, we find 
the following: 

Mail from home telling of the home-going of my precious mother. 
No one knows what it means except those who have passed through 
it; but God has been my comfort and stay. — Poor father! he will 
miss her so. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 155 

[October 30.] I awoke last night with such a burden for father, 
and prayed quite a long time for him. I felt that he needed real help. 

We also give below an extract from a letter which shows 
how she felt concerning her mother's death: 

Just after I wrote you last I had the sad news of the departure of 
my precious mother. She fell asleep in Jesus July 16, the very day 
I left P'ingloh, and I did not receive the news until September 5. 
It has all been so sad to me, but how I praise God that she was 
saved and ready to meet Him, and now I have the blessed hope of 
seeing her again. While I shall never see her in the flesh again, I 
know she is in glory with our blessed Saviour, and when He returns 
He will bring her with Him and we who are alive will be caught 
up together to ever be with the Lord, and that is such a blessed hope. 
It seems so strange to have no mother here, and of course I have 
wished to be there and to care for her in the last days, and to be to 
my father all I could; but God has called me here and I have to 
content myself to let others do what I should have loved to do. How 
I praise God that I know Him, and He has been my comfort during 
this time of sorrow. 

After vacation the same party of missionaries returned 
to P'ingloh, but had scarcely been at work a month when 
the awful massacre of the Presbyterian missionaries at 
Liencheo, in the Canton province, occurred. The boycott 
of American goods by the Chinese had been going on for 
some time previously and notices were posted at P'ingloh 
and other cities of Kuangsi to that effect. And although 
no ill-feeling had been shown at P'ingloh, yet the general 
attitude of the Chinese everywhere was none too good, 
and consuls and others felt a little apprehensive. Conse- 
quently, a telegram was sent to Wucheo by the American 
consul asking that it be forwarded to all the inland stations 
of the mission, and, while not ordering the missionaries to 
leave, yet in view of the recent massacre and boycott, he 
deemed it advisable to retire from the inland stations for 
a while. The telegram came while the writer and Mr. Old- 
field were out on an itinerating trip, having left Mrs. Far- 
mer with the Chinese preacher's family and Mr. Carpenter 
in the city. She, on receiving the message, was not excited 
nor frightened, as many under similar circumstances would 
have been; for she always possessed a clear head and calm 
spirit under the most dangerous and trying situations. 



156 Ada Beeson Farmer 

[November 4.] Telegram came from Wucheo, including one 
from American consul calling us down. — Trouble. Committed it to 
God. Consulted with Brother Carpenter and decided to send for 
Wilmoth and Brother Oldfield. 

[March 5.] The Lord gave peace and rest, and I slept pretty 
well. I awoke early and prayed much about the trouble and what 
to do; but felt such a victory in my own soul that I could not believe 
God was going to let us leave our work. I feel it is purely 
a local affair, though may be mistaken. — Afternoon : — I spent in 
prayer. The Lord gave me such rest and peace, — no fear. All 
peaceful here as far as we can tell. 

The next day she went on with her duties at the little 
day-school which she had just begun. 

[November 6.] I went to girl's school and had prayer ; work went 
on as usual. Had a time with Ta Mei ; she did not want to work 
and study. At one p. m., Mr. Farmer and Mr. Oldfield came in 
tired and worn, having walked seventy-five li that morning. Wil- 
moth was in favor of going down to Wucheo; so was Brother Car- 
penter. Brother Oldfield wanted to await the letter from Wucheo. 
I could not feel that God would have us leave our work, but Brother 
Oldfield and I were not strong enough to outweigh their feelings and 
opinions. 

After prayer and consultation we were a divided house 
on the subject, and, to settle it, all finally said that since 
the writer was the oldest missionary on the station and in 
charge of affairs, they would be willing to abide by his de- 
cision; if he said "Go" why, they would go; if to "Remain," 
they would do likewise. Since we had been officially 
warned, and, knowing the fate that some well-meaning but 
unwise missionaries met during the Boxer movement when 
they had been given time and warning to escape and did not, 
we did not feel like assuming the responsibility of the oc- 
casion, especially, not knowing anything more definite 
than we did. The fact that an American consul, under 
whose protection we, as American citizens were, had thought 
it advisable to leave, seemed in the light of Scripture rela- 
tive to obedience to magistrates, etc., sufficient grounds for 
us to go, at least to Wucheo, where we might avail our- 
selves of a steamer in case of a serious outbreak. 

Packing what clothes we needed, the house was put in 
the care of the door-boy, a trusty Christian, and the mag- 



Ada Beeson Farmer 157 

istrate in the city was notified that we were leaving and ex- 
pected him to look after things in our absence. On reach- 
ing Wucheo it was found that the nearer we came to Canton 
the more intense was the feeling against America, and pub- 
lic demonstrations were being held in Wucheo to arouse 
the people to patriotism and concerted action, until Amer- 
ica would repeal or do something regarding the Chinese 
Exclusion Act. 

Seeing that it was not possible to return inland soon, and 
that in case of trouble, Hongkong was a more advantageous 
place than Wucheo, and not being able to speak Cantonese 
and thereby deprived of doing any mission work in the lat- 
ter place, several missionaries decided to go to Hongkong, 
rent a house and live there until things quieted down. Ac- 
cordingly this was done. 

Although away from P'ingloh about three months, time 
was never more profitably spent. Mr. G. B. Carpenter, 
one of the new missionaries who lived at P'ingloh with us, 
was one of the most earnest and devoted Christians whose 
one theme was the salvation of men, accompanied us to 
Hongkong, and, soon after his arrival, gained an entrance 
into the hearts of some of the soldiers and sailors there; 
the result of which was that he was invited to hold a re- 
vival meeting for them. Many meetings were held both 
in the Sailors' Home and on the gun-boats, etc. Many of 
the boys were greatly blessed, being saved and sanctified. 
Christian workers of Hongkong said it was one of the best 
and most telling revivals they had ever known there. 

We have related the above in order to say that no one 
took a greater interest by prayer and personal work in the 
services than did Mrs. Farmer. She was as solicitous for 
the success of the meetings as if they depended upon her, 
and she gladly gave herself to prayer and personal work 
for the salvation of souls, and put herself to much trouble 
to make it pleasant for some of those who had been blessed 
in the services by helping entertain them at teas or dinners 
given at the little flat where we lived. In many ways, too 
numerous to mention, she endeared herself to the Christian 



158 Ada Beeson Farmer 

workers and all with whom she came in contact at that 
time. 

We who are down here of our mission are holding a revival for 
the soldiers and sailors, and this last week quite a number of them 
have been saved and sanctified. Praise God! The Wesleyan min- 
ister has asked us to take his church this week, so we begin there 
to-night. We praise God for an opportunity to labor for Him here 
while kept away from the dear Chinese. May 1906 be the best year 
of our lives. May our lives be according to His pattern and glory 
and bring precious souls to Him, is my prayer. 

The time quickly passed, and as rumors and the general 
ill-feeling of the Chinese subsided, the missionaries were 
soon on their way back to P'ingloh. 



SEED-TIME AND HARVEST 

As o'er his furrowed fields which lie 
Beneath a coldly drooping sky, 
Yet chilled with winter's melted snow, 
The husbandman goes forth to sow. 

Who calls the glorious service hard? 
Who deems it not its own reward? 
Who, for its trials, count it less 
A cause of praise and thankfulness? 

It may not be our lot to wield 
The sickle in the ripened field ; 
Nor ours to hear on summer eves, 
The reaper's song among the sheaves. 

Yet where our duty's task is wrought 
In unison with God's great thought, 
The near and future blend in one, 
And whatsoe'er is willed, is done! 

And ours the grateful service whence 
Comes, day by day, the recompense, 
The hope, the trust, the purpose stayed, 
The fountain and the noonday shade. 

And were this life the utmost span, 
The only end and aim of man, 
Better the toil of fields like these 
Than waking dreams and slothful ease. 

But life, though falling like our grain, 
Like that revives and springs again ; 
And, early called, how blest are they 
Who wait in heaven their harvest day. 

Whit tier. 




CHAPTER XII 

Closing Year of Work at Fingloh 

Yet do thy work; it shall succeed 
In thine or another's day; 
And if denied the victor s meed 
Thou shalt not lack the toiler s pay. 

Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the 
Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the 
Lord. — St. Paul. 

ITH the exception of four or five months' 
work at P'ingloh, after returning from her 
first furlough in America, the year 1906 
marks the close of Mrs. Farmer's labors 
in this city. Her New Year verses for 
1906 were as follows: "I will bless the 
Lord at all times; His praise shall con- 
tinually be in my mouth. Let us not be weary in well do- 
ing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. If 
we suffer with Him, we shall reign with him." 

While she enjoyed the work among the soldiers and sail- 
ors in Hongkong, yet in her heart she longed to be back in 
the midst of those, some of whom were but "babes in 
Christ," and others enquirers into the gospel. She felt that 
while she should be busy for the kingdom of God no mat- 
ter where she was placed, her first duty was to those who 
had no opportunity to hear the good news of salvation. 

A quotation from one of her letters, will serve to give us 
the connecting link once more with P'ingloh. 

We left Hongkong February sixth, and had a fairly good trip up 
to Wucheo, though we did have to stand still on account of the 
fog for thirty-six hours. We spent a few days in Wucheo, getting 
things re-packed, a boat, etc., and then started for P'ingloh, as there 
is no known trouble and danger inland at present. We saw no rea- 
son why we should remain longer from our work and the dear ones 



162 Ada Beeson Farmer 

God has brought out of darkness into the true light and from the 
poor souls yet lost in utter darkness. 

My Bible-woman did not return with us, therefore no one to do 
regular Bible-woman's work; and we are thinking of getting one of 
the Christian women of P'ingloh to go with me and help me get into 
the homes. Please pray for her and me in this, for the work among 
the women has always been hard in P'ingloh. — Wilmoth and Brother 
Oldfield are expecting to go and open Liucheo soon, that is, if they 
can get a Chinese preacher to go with them. I do not know how long 
they will be away; that depends largely on when they can rent a 
house, etc. 

As the boat could not reach P'ingloh before Sunday, 
progress being retarded by the rapids and long turns in the 
river, Mr. Carpenter and the writer left the boat Satur- 
day morning to walk into P'ingloh and spend Sunday with 
the little flock, leaving Mrs. Farmer to come on Monday. 

[March I.] The boat-people awoke early and started off before 
good daylight and we reached P'ingloh a little after noon. I was so 
glad to see Wilmoth down at the riverside to meet me, also the 
preacher, wife and children and most of the Christians. Those who 
did not go down to the boat to meet us came around to see us. It 
is blessed to see how God has worked in their hearts, though they 
are yet only "babes in Christ." The Lord is so good to us. How 
I praise God that he has saved and sanctified me and taught me 
to trust Him for all things, and for a husband that sees things the 
same way. God surely chose us for each other. 

Her diary for February 26, has an entry similar to the 
above letter: 

Reached P'ingloh. Praise God ! How my heart rejoiced in God 
to once more get back to our Christians and the dear ones still out- 
side the fold. 

Two days later, in posting up accounts, she discovered 
that we were very low as to finances. 

Posted books. Wound up the month's account to find that we 
had only forty-three cash, and none in the bank. Praise God, He 
kept us out of debt though we did not know we were so near. 

A week later under date of March eighth, she writes: 

Still no money, but great confidence in God, and peace in my 

own soul. Expecting the C 's to-day or to-morrow, God's 

will be done. Boy making bread for C 's. The Word so 

very precious to me this morning. — Dinner. — Wilmoth on way to 
chapel stopped at post office. — Allowance. — Praise God, relief has 



Ada Beeson Farmer 163 

come! Wilmoth and I had a praise meeting; bought vegetables, 
first in eight days. Last cent had been given for charcoal to bake 
C 's bread. "He is faithful/' 

Considering the above incident with the one formerly 
related, it looks almost amusing that when a real hard finan- 
cial test came it was almost always co-incidental with the 
visit of some guest which would make the test all the harder. 
In the present instance, like the previous one, while all 
money had absolutely given out, the larder contained canned 
goods, etc., but nothing to buy wood, water, and coal. 

But, dear friends, grant that even the pantry had also 
been empty, is not God able for any emergency in life? He 
is the Almighty One who out of nothing created the uni- 
verse, and who out of man's helplessness and extremity, 
works wonders in the realm of prayer and faith still. Truly, 
truly, "He is faithful/' fulfilling His precious promises al- 
ways to those who live righteously and trust Him with all 
their hearts. He not only supplies the needs of His chil- 
dren; but how often gives them over and above what they 
need and ask! 

The way did not open for Mr. Oldfield and the writer 
to leave for Liucheo until the eleventh of May, and the in- 
tervening time was busily spent by all on the station. On 
reading Mrs. Farmer's diary covering this period we find 
that she was deeply burdened in prayer for P'ingloh and the 
Christians on the station. I shall quote most fully from 
her diary in order to show how faithful she was in secret 
prayer. She truly prayed "without ceasing," and the suc- 
cess of the little revival service at this time was beyond 
a doubt due in great measure to her earnest intercession. 
We doubt not, too, that in a short missionary career as hers 
has been, that God has not yet fully answered all of the 
prayers of His dear child; but that some future time shall 
yet witness blessing upon P'ingloh, Liucheo, and other cit- 
ies of Kuangsi, for which Mrs. Farmer poured out her soul 
in tears and agonizing prayer to her "Father which is in 
secret." 

[March 14.] I awoke and had a real burden of prayer for the 
women of P'ingloh ; fasted and prayed, and did not go to Chinese 
prayers. 



164 Ada Beeson Farmer 

[March 26.] Praise God for the school! May it be a place 
where souls may find Christ and a road into the parents' hearts. 

Two weeks later in a letter home she says: 

The girls' school has been opened now two weeks and the Lord 
is blessing, though the Enemy is not asleep. Last Monday two pu- 
pils left school because the street people said they had joined the 
"foreign devils," and they feared ; but we have been praying and 
yesterday one came back and I believe the other will soon. We 
are looking to God to not only save the children, but through them 
reach their mothers and fathers and other members of the family. 
There are two men who are about ready for baptism, and one 
woman, only her husband is not willing for her to be baptized here, 
so we are praying and waiting for God to work in his heart until 
he is willing. There are also a few others who are looking into the 
gospel. We are looking to God to give souls yet before conference. 

[March 8.] At English prayers I led and read William Bram- 
well, a great inspiration to my heart. 

[April 26.] Such a burden for the women here and my soul 
went out to them. I am like Jeremiah, "O, that my head were 
waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears." 

[April 27.] Jeremiah's vision keeps coming to me. First, root 
out; second, pull down; third, destroy; fourth, throw down; fifth, 
to build ; sixth, to plant. Such a burden for souls in P'ingloh, yea, in 
China. But realize that there is the pulling down and destroying, 
before the building and planting. Lord, keep me true to my trust and 
let me not grow weary in well doing, for we shall reap. Began read- 
ing Finney on revivals, Lord, give us one here. Let Wilmoth have 
special meetings before going to Liucheo, if it can be Thy will. 

[April 29.] Wilmoth so much better in body. He felt that he 
should begin special meetings for Christians on sanctification, etc. 
He preached this morning on the "Old Man," and the Lord gave 
him strength ; also took evening service. The Lord was present in 
both services. The Lord blessed in the women's meeting and is 
speaking to them. But while I was talking to the women after- 
wards, brother Chang came in and told his servant-woman to buy 
vegetables, it being the Sabbath, my heart was so sad. Lord, sanc- 
tify our workers so they may live the gospel and preach in power. 

Mrs. Farmer was greatly burdened for the preacher, his 
wife, and Bible-woman, and other Christians, that they 
might yield themselves fully to God to be cleansed "from 
all filthiness of flesh and spirit" and be empowered for serv- 
ice. In China, as elsewhere, a mere half-hearted service 
for Christ avails little. No one can be blessed or made a 



Ada Beeson Farmer 165 

blessing until the life is absolutely put under God's full con- 
trol to obey Him at any price. 

[May 1.] Such a burden for souls. The Lord gave me Jeremiah 
i:io; xxxi:28. Wilmoth was called off to see about the house and I 
had a good time in prayer. I did not study any, but spent the time in 
prayer. 

[May 2.] To-night the Spirit fell upon us. Have not seen such 
a meeting among the Chinese, — all praise to Him! Wilmoth 
preached with power; two or three took a stand for sanctification. 
This morning went upstairs for prayer and Bible study — I prayed and 
such a burden and power of prayer came on me — I felt like my heart 
would break, burdened for P'ingloh and church. God gave me Jere- 
miah xxxii:i7, and John xi — Martha. "If thou wouldst be- 
lieve," etc. Bless God, He enabled me to believe! 

[May 3.] The Lord impressed Wilmoth while at prayer to 
preach on "Resisting the Spirit." I felt not such a burden as yester- 
day. The Lord gave me Jeremiah xxxiii:3. Spent the whole morning 
in prayer and Bible study. Have not studied any this week. 

[May 4.] I still spend the mornings in prayer and Bible study. 
Special meetings. Good service to-night. 

The week of special services was much blessed. Some 
of the Christians yielded to God and were lifted into a bet- 
ter life, and some, as is always the case, resisted the close 
preaching and voice of God. One of the latter was the 
Chinese preacher of whom Mrs. Farmer says: 

[May 6.] Brother Chang preached to-night, and the poorest ser- 
mon I ever heard him preach, I think. He had resisted the truth 
all the week and how could he have liberty to preach? Lord, we 
will not let Thee go until Thou bless him. 

The result of these meetings are summed up in an arti- 
cle Mrs. Farmer wrote for "The Christian and Missionary 
Alliance," from which I quote a paragraph: 

It is Mr. Farmer's custom to hold at least one week of special 
meetings each year for the Christians on the deeper truths, sancti- 
fication, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Divine healing, the Lord's 
second coming, etc. We had been greatly burdened in prayer for 
some time for such a season, and the first week in May was the 
Lord's time which will not soon be forgotten by some of our little 
band here. 

The Spirit was with us from the first service, in conviction of sin, 
short-comings, the need of a holy life, of the existence of the "old 
man," and the need of his crucifixion. Wednesday the Spirit was 



i66 Ada Beeson Farmer 

poured out upon us in such a real and powerful manner, and when 
Mr. Farmer gave opportunity for all to speak who wanted a clean 
heart and to be filled with the Spirit and were willing to pay the 
price, there was no hesitation on the part of several ; but they began 
to confess their wrong, and desired to forsake all and trust God 
to do the work. Our cook said that all day the Spirit had been 
showing him the sins of his heart in the same manner in which it 
had been presented in the sermon, and as they had been shown him, 
he had put them away and was trusting the precious blood to cleanse 
and keep clean, and when he had done this, his heart was so full 
of joy that he had been "stealing laughs" ever since. He also 
said, "when the Si" Nai came into the kitchen she did not know why 
I was laughing," but I knew it must be the Spirit working in his 
heart. Since that time there has been such a difference in his life. 
The preacher's wife was greatly blessed and others were lifted higher. 
She said the Lord had spoken to her about her temper, pride, unwill- 
ingness to witness for her Savior, and smoking; (women smoke in 
China as much as the men), and she took a stand for a clean heart. 
Praise God, the Spirit can work in the hearts of the Chinese as he 
can in yours and mine. But alas! as is so often the case at home, 
the preacher is the one who withstood the truth, while nearly every 
member of the church took some stand for the better. Please stand 
with us in prayer and faith for him, that he will yield and be 
cleansed and filled with all the fullness of God so that he may be a 
true shepherd for the flock. 

The time now drew near for Mr. Oldfield and the writer 
to go to Liucheo to see if a chapel could not be opened in 
that city of heathen darkness. They had been waiting some 
weeks for the arrival of Uen Sien Seng, the same Chinese 
preacher who had helped to open up P'ingloh, but who in 
the meantime had left the Christian and Missionary Alli- 
ance Mission for work elsewhere. His eyes during this 
interim of absence had become badly diseased in some way, 
which caused him to become nearly blind. It seemed a 
poor prospect to storm a heathen city for the gospel with 
the aid of a blind man; but he was a most faithful soul 
when at work for the Lord, and the mission has never had 
any one who has witnessed more faithfully and consistently 
for Christ than he. Even with his eyesight badly impaired, 
he stands up in the chapel and preaches the gospel most 
fearlessly. Off and on he has been associated with the 
work of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Mission in 
Kuangsi for several years, and it has fallen to his lot most 



Ada Beeson Farmer 167 

of that time to aid in the work of the hard pioneer stations 
of the mission. When he shall have finished his labors and 
stands before the King, it will surely be said unto him, "Well 
done, thou good and faithful servant." 

We are very much amused at times, when asked by peo- 
ple who generally do nothing for foreign missions, if the 
Chinese make good Christians, or if they do not ally them- 
selves with the church for the material and temporal ad- 
vantage which accrues to them. 

We have not the space in this book to go into the ques- 
tion; but can most emphatically assert that the gospel of 
Jesus Christ has produced as true Christians in China as it 
ever has in any other part of the world. The Boxer move- 
ment was the occasion of presenting to the world a host of 
noble martyrs for Jesus whose crowns of glory will shine 
as lustrously as any of the martyrs of old, — of the Roman, 
or other persecutions. And time would fail us to tell of 
the great hosts of lowly Chinese Christians, whose lives 
and daily walk, considering the length of time they have 
been Christians and the light they have, would put Chris- 
tians in Western lands to shame. What if American Chris- 
tianity was subjected to the ordeal of blood and fire through 
which China has passed; would it stand the test? Espe- 
cially, what would become of those weak and lukewarm 
Christians who are always asking if it pays to convert the 
heathen, and whether all Chinese Christians are not rice 
Christians? 

We ask pardon for this digression, but contemplation of 
Mr. Uen's faithfulness stirred our feelings and we could 
not help it. He arrived May seventh. Mrs. Farmer made 
a note of it in her diary as follows: 

To-day Mr. Uen came. On the way nearly a month. Poor 
fellow, he is nearly blind, but seems happy to get back here. From 
what he says, he was out of God's will in leaving the mission. 

Another event which caused much rejoicing on the station 
at this time was the consummation of a bargain for a per- 
manent residence for the mission. We have seen before 
how earnestly Mrs. Farmer had done her part by prayer 
for a good place, and now, God at last, rewarded the pray- 



168 Ada Beeson Farmer 

ers and faith of His child, by giving one of the most splen- 
did locations in the city. It was high, well drained, and so 
situated as to make it well suited for residence and church 
work. At the time of the purchase of the lot there was 
a very old and dilapidated house upon it, which later, with 
some repairs, was made habitable and used until last year 
when the mission erected a nice residence and chapel in 
place of it. The money for the purchase of this lot had 
come in answer to prayer and self-denial, and of course 
made the transaction all the more one of thanksgiving. 

[May 9.] To-day paid ting (earnest) money for house. Praise 
God. 

[May 11.] Final preparations for Wilmoth leaving for Liucheo. 
We knelt and prayed together, committing each other with all that 
would come to us while separated to God. 

Mrs. Farmer was left in charge of affairs on the sta- 
tion, and Brother Carpenter, as soon as the remainder of 
the money for the lot had been paid down, moved into the 
old house on the new lot. This left Mrs. Farmer with 
her servant-woman at the place where all had been pre- 
viously living, the Chinese preacher and family being just 
next door to her in the girls' school. While she was not 
without companionship, yet many duties devolved upon her 
which she met most courageously. From a letter she 
wrote home at this time, we get a good picture of her 
daily tasks. 

My Precious Ones at Home: 

To-day has been a full day, but I have the accounts closed, and 
all reports made out, except the colporter's, and he has not returned. 
Also have prepared my message for the women to-morrow on "Con- 
fession of Sin and Restoration," now I am free to write my home 
letter. I have written my last letter to Mr. Farmer, for it is only 
nine days until I leave here for Wucheo, and he leaves Liucheo 
about the same time, so he could not get another letter from me, and 
this will be the last one I write you from here until after we return 
from our summer's vacation. 

The weather is very hot here now, and I am beginning to feel 
the need of a change and rest. There is no breeze to be had in this 
house, and no quiet, with all the burden of the work since Mr. 
Farmer is away; but I have a fairly good appetite and eat anyway, 
and the Lord blessedly gives strength by the day. The weather is 



Ada Beeson Farmer 169 

not the hardest thing after all, but it is the burden of souls. Some 
of the Christians were getting cold and doing questionable things, 
so I had to deal with them. One, the preacher's wife, who had 
gone back to smoking, and all because her husband would not give 
it up. She got right, but he is fighting and says he will not, not 
even for the sake of others. Please pray for him. "Nothing is too 
hard for Jesus; no man can work like Him." There are four women 
who are preparing for baptism and others who would step out, 
but, . . . 

I am now busy getting things settled to leave, arranging for a 
chapel keeper, (as the one we have is going to leave), salaries of 
workers, rent, etc., so my hands are full. But the Lord is so near 
and so real, and helps me meet all questions for Him. How I 
shall ever praise God that I yielded my all to Him that day in 
brother Brown's parlor, and let Him rule my life, fight my battles, 
solve my problems, and lead me in His way! What a blessed life, — ■ 
"Hid with Christ in God." "His grace is sufficient," for all emerg- 
encies and all difficult places and problems. If there is one who 
reads this and does not understand what I mean, I beseech you 
not to stop until you do know. 



THE REGIONS BEYOND 

To the regions beyond I must go, I must go, 

Where the story has never been told; 
To the millions that never have heard of His love 

I must tell the sweet story of old. 

To the hardest of places He calls me to go, 

Not thinking of comfort or ease; 
The world may pronounce me a dreamer, a fool, 

Enough if the Master I please. 

Oh, ye that are spending your leisure and pow'rs, 

In pleasures so foolish and fond; 
Awake from your selfishness, folly, and sin 

And go to the regions beyond. 

There are other "lost sheep" that the Master must bring 

And they must the message be told; 
He sends me to gather them out of all lands 

And welcome them back to His fold. 

A. B. Simpson. 



CHAPTER XIII 
The Opening of Liucheo to the Gospel 

/ love to tell the story! 

'Tis pleasant to repeat 
What seems, each time I tell it, 

More wonderfully sweet. 
I love to tell the story! 
For some have never heard 
The message of salvation 

From God's own Holy Word. 

Kate Hankey. 

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear 
unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry, 
which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the 
grace of God. 

Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was 
named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation. But as 
it is written, to whom he was not spoken of, they shall see; and 
they that have not heard shall understand. — St. Paul. 

EFORE telling of the way in which an en- 
trance was gained into this city it will be 
of interest to know something of the place 
itself. If the map is again consulted it 
will be seen that Liucheo occupies very 
nearly a central location in Kuangsi, and 
that it is also on a branch of the West 
River. Its position is a commanding one, and makes 
it easily accessible to all other important cities of the 
province. Small steamers are able to ascend the rapids 
and run almost all the year, except in the extremely dry 
season. At present there is an effort being made to put 
on boats whose draught of water will allow them to as- 
cend the river, even when the water is too shallow for the 
regular river launch. 




172 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Liucheo, commercially considered, is one of the first 
cities of Kuangsi. It is on the intersection of important 
trade routes leading to adjoining provinces. Its commer- 
cial importance is evidenced by the fact that the proposed 
railway of Kuangsi is to pass through Liucheo and district. 
It has long been the center of Kuangsi's great lumber trade, 
being the location for many big lumber firms whose thou- 
sands of rafts of beautiful timber annually float down the 
river to Wucheo, Canton, and other points of distribution. 
So great is its lumber trade that the common people have a 
proverb which says, "It is better to die in Liucheo," mean- 
ing, that wood for a coffin can be obtained more cheaply 
there than elsewhere. There is also much refining of sugar 
in Liucheo, some of the best in the province being manu- 
factured there. Cattle raising with the correlated indus- 
try of tanning hides is largely carried on, there being al- 
ways a good market for good live cattle and also for 
leather. Excellent mushrooms, for which the place is noted, 
are also grown in large quantities. 

Liucheo, in political rank, is a prefectural city govern- 
ing seven other "hsien" cities, not including its own. The 
city proper is enclosed with a splendid high wall of brick 
and stone. Almost all of the residences are well built, and 
many of the stores are as beautiful and well stocked with 
both native and foreign goods as are to be found anywhere 
in the province. The Cantonese have here, as elsewhere 
in Kuangsi, the richest shops and best trade. So important 
are the interests of the Cantonese who live at Liucheo, 
(which always means much commercial activity), that they 
have built the most magnificent guild-house in the province. 
The streets are fairly wide and the city kept about as clean 
as the average inland city of China. Temples and altars 
to gods innumerable, and ancestral halls, abound every- 
where, both in and outside the city walls. If Paul had vis- 
ited Liucheo, he might have said of it what he did of 
Athens of old, that it was "altogether too superstitious." 
But when we consider that the population of Liucheo is 
made up largely of representatives from several places, it 
is but natural that there should be numerous temples and 





i. 4, 5. Wayside shrines 

3. Taoist Priests. 

4. A large Chinese idoi 



Ada Beeson Farmer 173 

shrines with their different gods and goddesses, worshiped 
by those over whom they are supposed to have power for 
weal or woe. The people spend much time and money 
annually in the worship of these false deities. Idle proces- 
sions, theatricals and feasts in honor of the divinities are 
matters in which the mixed population of Liucheo takes 
much interest. Such times are of course characterized by 
much lawlessness, revelry, and debauchery. 

One of their favorite pastimes and expressions of wor- 
ship is what they call "T'siang P'ao" (contesting for the 
cracker). It is common on the birthday of almost any 
idol; but there is an especially notable one in whose honor 
this contest is held every two or three years at Liucheo. 
Thousands of people gather across the river at a place 
called Nanp'ingmiao, (Southern Peace Temple). There 
is a large shell shot into the air and as it falls to the 
ground the men with one accord rush for it. There is 
much brutal fighting to obtain the shell, for the successful 
contestant is given a prize which is supposed to be a talisman 
of the god's favor and blessing. There are sometimes two 
or three prizes, as first and second prize, which are carried 
through the streets of the city a day or two before the con- 
test. Sometimes the different tribes are pitted against each 
other, each man helping those of his own clique or clan. 
Last year the festival for the above-named temple came 
near ending in serious disaster. A young girl was offered 
for the first prize and the Hunanese and the Chuang people 
contested fiercely, the Hunanese finally winning the prize. 
The Chuangs then threatened to come into the city and 
have it out with the Hunanese. So serious grew the matter 
that the magistrates had the city gates closed and went in 
person to the Chuangs to conciliate affairs. So shameful 
and baneful is the worship of idols! 

We have before mentioned the fact that northwestern 
Kuangsi is made up of so many diverse people. Liucheo is 
a center for the representatives of many of the various 
aboriginal tribes, besides the many people from the adjoin- 
ing provinces of Kweicheo, Uinnon, Hunan, Kiangsi, and 
Canton; Hunan, perhaps, furnishing the largest quota of 



174 Ada Beeson Farmer 

all. The presence of so many of this high-strung, warlike 
people, together with the aboriginal tribes, creates for Liu- 
cheo an atmosphere favorable to lawlessness. In 1904, 
two years before Mrs. Farmer's residence in Liucheo, muti- 
nous Imperial troops inaugurated a season of rapine and 
plunder of the city, being joined by thousands of the rob- 
bers or banditti from the surrounding territory. Five days 
the gates of the city were closed and in charge of the rob- 
ber hordes who held high pandemonium, killing all the offi- 
cials who did not escape, and robbing and burning the stores 
of the wealthy Cantonese merchants, spilling much inno- 
cent blood, and taking captive many a fair daughter of the 
citizens of the place. Many a pitiful tale of sorrow was 
told Mrs. Farmer when she went there a few years later 
by some broken-hearted mother who bemoaned the loss of 
a daughter taken captive by the robbers; in some cases held 
for ransom, and in others to become the unwilling consort 
of some outlaw. Or perhaps it was a son, who was forced 
to join the ranks of the bandits or forfeit his life for whom 
the sad parents mourned. 

Desolation and poverty followed in the wake of this re- 
bellion, and the prodigal sacrifice of human life which took 
place in order to restore the city and district to peace and 
quiet was appalling. Even to the present day the city and 
surrounding country have not fully recovered from the aw- 
ful devastation and sorrow caused by this uprising. 

If Liucheo is important commercially and politically, 
none the less is it so from a missionary standpoint, as it is 
so centrally located in the province and governing so large 
and populous an area. The Christian and Missionary Al- 
liance had for a long time desired to open a station there; 
but owing to the rebellious nature of the district, mission- 
aries were not allowed to do much work in that section. 
Foreign consuls did not care to be responsible for their 
nationals working there, and the Chinese Mandarins 
equally felt the burden of having to answer for the peace 
and safety of any who would dare to live in a section so 
full of robbers and bad characters generally. Consequently, 
not until the country was reduced to a state of comparative 



Ada Beeson Farmer 175 

peace and tranquility, namely, from 1904 to 1905, was it 
thought best to begin work there. Moreover, it would 
have been very difficult before, as the people were so ter- 
rorized by the rebellion and the stringent means applied to 
quell it that they had no time nor heart for the gospel, or 
much of anything else. 

We saw in the previous chapter how Mrs. Farmer had 
bidden farewell to her husband, who, as in the case of P'ing- 
loh, had to go before and search out a suitable house be- 
fore she could be allowed to join him in the work there. 
We have also mentioned how desirous both were of going 
there soon after their marriage; but on account of the pre- 
vailing conditions at that time, could not, and it was with 
some real disappointment they had to turn aside to P'ing- 
loh. Liucheo had ever been upon Mrs. Farmer's heart 
and prayers, and now as the way was about to open for 
her to go to that city as the first white woman to bring the 
gospel to the women there, she gladly bade her husband 
God speed upon his going and undertaking. 

Three or four days, in company with Mr. Uen, were 
occupied in making the trip across the country from P'ingloh 
to Liucheo by chair. There is something peculiarly glo- 
rious and exhilarating as well as solemnly important in 
the thought of being the first to reside in a heathen city as 
an ambassador of Jesus Christ. True, colporters in the 
past had been there distributing Scriptures, and now and 
then a Christian Chinese had passed through or quietly 
resided there; but now the time for an aggressive attack 
upon Satan's stronghold had come. The city was to be 
taken, so to speak, and the blood-stained banner of Jesus 
Christ planted upon its citadel. We shall never forget 
the thrill which went through our soul as we arrived upon 
the banks of the river, much swollen at the time by the 
spring rains, and took a bird's-eye view of Liucheo stretch- 
ing along the opposite bank. Still more rapidly did our 
hearts beat when we were ferried over and our chair- 
bearers carried us under the archway of the East gate of 
the city. We were at last in Liucheo! What would be 
our reception — good or bad? These and many similar 



176 Ada Beeson Far m e r 

thoughts rushed through our minds. We were taken to 
a large inn on one of the main streets of the city and were 
soon nicely settled in a room in the rear of the building. 

Our method of procedure was largely like that at P'ing- 
loh. We went upon the streets daily, selling Scripture por- 
tions, witnessing, and meeting guests who called upon us 
at the inn. The magistrate of the place, who, although a 
Cantonese, and therefore an enlightened man, was never- 
theless very unfriendly, as was revealed later by an inter- 
view with him, did not care for us to locate at Liucheo. But 
as God gave Paul friends among the Asiarchs, so did He 
us, right in the prefect's yamen. Mr. Li, whose picture is 
given in this book, was an excellent young man whom we 
had met before at P'ingloh, and had often paid us visits. 
From the telegraph office in P'ingloh he had come to Liu- 
cheo where he had recently married into a military official's 
family and had been appointed as one of the under-secre- 
taries in the prefect's yamen. As soon as he found out we 
were in Liucheo, he called and brought a number of nice 
Chinese to see us, and on learning that we wanted a house, 
endeavored to help us rent one. He was not ashamed to 
go on the street with us. God also gave us another friend 
in a Mr. Wang, whom we had never seen before and in 
a little while lost trace of, and do not know to-day of his 
whereabouts. He was also a small military official, and, 
as he had been in Hupeh province, and there known other 
missionaries, was very kindly disposed. So, through the 
aid of these two friends, neither of whom were Christians, 
we succeeded after about ten or twelve days in renting 
a large house on the North Gate Street at the side of which 
was a small store which we proposed to convert into a street 
chapel. 

Unfortunately, our "landlord" was a woman, who, al 
though she had traveled some, (her husband being con 
nected with the army), and was consequently not so fear 
ful of foreigners, would not consent to rent the place un 
less this Mr. Wang would guarantee us to be all right 
This he gladly did, and we were soon in the house, con 
gratulating ourselves that we had had so little trouble 



Ada Beeson Farmer 177 

But Satan, who if he can not foil in one way is never at 
a loss to do so in another, was not going to let us get set- 
tled so easily. 

Unwisely, we had let the landlady reserve a portion of 
the house entirely separated from ours by a brick wall, etc., 
for herself; but she had to pass in and out of the street 
door which communicated with our part of the house as 
well as hers by a long entrance from the front. While 
she had her slave girl living with her, and relatives and 
friends coming and going all the time, yet we had hardly 
moved in and begun repairs, before she began to urge us 
to move out and wanted the house back. We had paid her 
a much higher price for rent than the Chinese would have 
given and also had had Mr. Wang as "middle man." Re- 
alizing that if we gave the house up it would be doubly 
hard to rent elsewhere, we determined to hold on. 

The little store-room, the rafters of which were almost 
eaten up by white ants, was soon whitewashed, a pulpit 
and benches put in, and Mr. Uen and I opened up to preach. 
Brother Oldfield, on account of language, was not yet able 
to take such services. What crowds we had from day to 
day! Soon the city was full of all kinds of bad rumors 
about us, and of course the poor landlady did not escape 
censure, either, for renting to us. The crowds in the chapel 
became so disorderly and impolite that they had no respect 
for Mr. Uen even, whose age and position would have un- 
der other circumstances commanded great respect from a 
Chinese audience. Finally, placards were put up in the 
city by some rascals in which we were denounced in the 
strongest terms, saying that we had come to Liucheo to 
tear down the temples and subvert all law of decency and 
purity, also, that whoever joined the church would be sub- 
jected to all kinds of indecent rites, etc. Others thought 
that we were spies against the land and advance agents for 
some foreign kingdom, which would later pounce down 
upon poor Liucheo and take it. 

The state of feeling is well portrayed if we transcribed 
Acts xvii:20, 21, to suit the occasion, remembering that 
there was no beating and dragging before the magistrates, 



178 Ada Beeson Farmer 

as it did not reach that stage. "These men, being for- 
eigners, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs 
which are not lawful for us to receive neither to observe," 
being Chinese. And the multitude rose up together against 
them." Mr. Li came around and told us that we were the 
talk of the town, and ugly talk at that, and that we had 
better stay indoors for a while, it being our custom to take 
a long walk each afternoon. 

Disorderly places in China, when closed by an official, 
have two long strips of white paper printed with blue 
characters pasted at right angles to each other across the 
door and stamped with the official's seal. One morning we 
found our chapel so sealed; but of course there was no of- 
ficial stamp on the strip. Some one had gotten hold of 
the strip of paper and sealed the door the night before. 
In a few days, as matters grew worse, the head of the po- 
lice for the North Gate Street came to see us and said that 
he greatly feared we were going to have a mob and serious 
trouble. He urged us to go to the magistrate under whose 
jurisdiction we were and lay the matter before him. Mr. 
Li also advised the same. 

As a rule, missionaries bear as long as possible before 
appealing to a magistrate, lest it should compromise them 
with him and with the people; but there are times when it 
should be done, and promptly done, so as to avert unnec- 
essary trouble. The head of the police had said that we 
had better take the precaution while the wind was small lest 
when it grew to a cyclone, we could do nothing. 

Accordingly, Mr. Oldfield and I called upon the magis- 
trate and stated the case to him, telling him that he himself 
well knew who we were and what our business was. At first 
he was disposed to speak to us in any but a kindly and con- 
ciliatory manner, but when, near the close of the interview, 
I turned to him and said, "Mr. Oldfield is an Englishman 
and has a consul at Wucheo, and if you do not have the 
scurrilous placards torn down and issue proclamations giv- 
ing us 'face' and warn the people against violence we will 
surely telegraph the English consul." He instantly assumed 
the most pleasing manner possible, and said we should have 




1. l.ill POj THE OLD LADY W HO HELPED R 

2. l,i Sii:.\ Seng, a Chinese friend who hel 

l.n CHEO. 

3. Uen Ri Ki', Mrs. Farmer's Bible wom w 

4. SlE Sii:\ SENGj TIM. preacher vt Liucheo. 

5. &EN Si i.x SENGj who helped open P'ingli 

6. Ch'en Ping San. \ Colporter. 



Parmer at Wucheo. 
,ped us rent a house at 



AND I. n C] 



Ada Beeson Farmer 179 

order and mutual peace at any cost. He immediately be- 
gan giving orders to the soldiers standing around, and he 
himself escorted us out with the utmost dignity and grace. 

On the afternoon of the same day we opened chapel with 
two or three red-coated braves in front of the door. People 
crowded in as usual; but were orderly and polite. In a 
day or so we had a nice proclamation hung up in the chapel 
where all could see it. The soldiers came only a few days; 
but the crowds continued to come and hear the gospel. 
From then to the present writing there has been no trouble 
of any kind in Liucheo. 

All of this was too much for the poor landlady, and she 
begged us to give her back her premises. Seeing that such 
appeals would not avail, she adroitly fell back upon 
woman's last and mightiest resource, tears. Occidentals 
like to hide themselves at times of weeping; but Orientals 
like to display their tears so as to awaken all the public 
sympathy possible. As we previously remarked, she was 
in a court adjoining our quarters and did not fail to make 
us hear her loud complaints and lamentations; also, at the 
same time she threatened to drown herself, or take a big 
dose of opium which would accomplish the same result. 
After she had wept and wailed all night, more or less, Mr. 
Uen became quite uneasy lest she might suicide, for many 
Chinese women will take their lives any time rather than 
endure slander or hard persecution. He advised us to give 
up the house to her. As far as we were concerned, we 
could have easily done so; but we knew that after all that 
had passed it would mean a great blow to the gospel and 
seriously hinder matters. Moreover, we had treated her 
with perfect fairness as far as law was concerned, and 
were under no obligations to her. After much prayer and 
thought, we compromised by returning the residence to 
her but made her agree to let us keep the little store. With 
great reluctance she agreed to this. When we moved out 
of the dwelling she came around and in true Eastern fash- 
ion fell upon her face in front of us and thanked us again 
and again, so that we were really glad that we let her have 
the house. 



180 Ada Beeson Farmer 

As it was now time to attend annual conference, we re- 
paired, the best we could, a little old, damp, dark room in 
the rear of the store for the preacher and our cook and 
left for Wucheo, with the charge that brother Uen be sure 
and rent another residence if possible. The days of con- 
ference were soon over and another very pleasant vaca- 
tion was spent at Macao. 

In looking over Mrs. Farmer's letters I find two por- 
tions which I here insert, as they give us so nicely the con- 
nection of events. In one of these to her sister, after the 
usual greetings, etc., she asked about one of her nephews: 

I can not realize that he will be a young man and through college 
when I go home on furlough. "Time flies and children grow." 
What does he think of doing for his life's work? I trust something 
that will last through all eternity. 

We are having a good rest this year; have a cool place and fine 
view overlooking the city and ocean as well. Yesterday we went 
across the bay to what is called "Ten Stone Tables," and celebrated 
Brother Cunningham's birthday. We left here before good daylight 
and got there about six-thirty a. m., rested awhile, and had a bath 
in the brook, sat under the waterfall and had a shower bath! Fine 
fun for boys! But I enjoyed it as well. We had breakfast, read, 
and then I had a sleep; wrote some, had dinner, talked, Bible-reading, 
prayer, etc., another bath, supper, and came home reaching here at 
eight-forty-five p. m. 

It was good to have a day in the woods, hear the rustling of the 
leaves, singing of the birds, and look up into the clear blue heavens 
after having lived in a Chinese city and a Chinese house where 
there are no trees and little air and where we have to be so careful 
to do nothing out of the ordinary that we can help. For the poor 
Chinese women of my rank never go walking out on the streets 
unless accompanied by an elderly woman, and that to slip to a neigh- 
bor's now and then. When we take our daily exercise — walks — 
they think us very funny and say we are looking out for the valuables 
in the earth, and some think because we have blue eyes we can see 
a way down in the earth. Often men and sometimes old women 
follow us to see what we do and get when we go out into the country, 
and feel rather disappointed to see us turn around and walk back as 
we went. They often ask us what we are looking for, as they can not 
imagine why we should be walking out with nothing to do; for they 
know nothing of exercise or recreation for their bodies except that 
now, in the new Government schools, the students are required to 
drill ; but that is a very new thing. We, after a year's work in the 
interior of China, are glad to be free and do as we like and not be 



Ada Beeson Farmer 181 

followed, watched, and misunderstood; also to have a real rest for 
body, soul and spirit, and preparation for a new year's work. 

You will see from my general letter that Mr. Farmer and I 
are appointed to a new station, Liucheo, the one he opened this 
spring. No foreign woman has ever been there and I will create 
quite a sensation for a time. All will want to see the "foreign devil 
woman," as I am called. While the place is new, the work hard, 
the people fear and hate us, yet I praise God for the privilege of 
taking the gospel to those who have never heard! Mr. Farmer has 
already rented a small chapel; but he and Brother Hess are to 
go up and buy or rent and get things ready for me. I hated to 
leave the dear ones at P'ingloh, but we feel God is leading us to 
a place of greater need and usefulness, and we gladly follow, trusting 
Him for an entrance and for souls. Please stand with us in prayer 
and faith for a house and souls there, . . . Jesus is so precious to me, 
I am so happy in His service. 

The next letter is dated September eighteenth, 1906, and 
written to her brother and sister-in-law. 

I did not intend to wait so long to write, but things do not go as 
we expect them to go in China, and instead of my going to P'ingloh 
to pack our goods and bring them down here, the committee said 
I was not to go, but that the brethren should pack the goods and send 
them down, and I was put in charge of the home here at Wucheo, 
while Mr. and Mrs. Quick are at the coast for their rest. Who 
would have thought that I would have been put here even for a 
short time? for the servants are all Cantonese speakers and I speak 
Mandarin. But here I am, and have four from other missions 
besides. Well, I took God for everything that he gave me to do 
some years ago, and He has never failed me. Praise His dear name ! 

The first few days we were here there was a hubbub and uproar; 
packing, repacking, getting boats, some sewing, washing, ironing, etc v 
until our heads truly ached ; but one good thing is that it did not 
last long. Mr. Farmer and Brother Hess left us a week ago last 
Monday, but on reaching Kiangk'eo, found that the boat they were 
to take from there to Liucheo was disabled and the next best thing 
was to come to Kweip'ing, Brother Fee's station, and remain there 
until they could get a boat. The Fees were not at home, so they 
just went in and took charge of the house, and, as it were, set up 
housekeeping for themselves those few days. They hoped to be able 
to leave there last Saturday or Sunday, just as the boat happened to 
go. Such are some of the happenings on the mission field, especially 
when we think we have got to go the quickest! Therefore, it is a 
good thing to make up one's mind to be patient at the first as at 
the last. They have gone with the intention of buying if possible, 
and if not, to rent a house and get things ready for me to go up. 
I trust it will not be long before I may be able to go to the dear 



182 Ada Beeson Farmer 

women of that city who have never had an opportunity to hear of 
Jesus who is so precious to us. 

I am finding out something of what it means to keep a large 
house, and it is quite a difference from the small one I have been 
keeping; in fact, the drawing-room is as large as the whole house 
we have been living in. Well, we trust God will give us a larger 
and better one in Liucheo; so please stand in prayer for this and 
for the needed money to repair, or what may have to be done. We 
do so praise God for preserving our lives this summer in going up 
and down this river while there was so much pirating. There is 
such a difference in the China of to-day and a few years ago, and 
not for the better, unless they get what they need, Christ." 

Amid all the busy waiting days at Wucheo she did not 
forget to pray for others and their needs. 

[October 14.] A telegram from Nanning: Evangeline very ill. 
Miss Rutherford, Brother Hess, and I went down to dining-room 
and prayed, but it seems that I could not get anywhere in my prayer, 
I was so tired. I went to bed. 

[October 15.] I awoke last night about one or two a. m., with 
an awful burden for Evangeline, and prayed until the burden was 
lifted and I knew God had heard. 

It is often the case that when God calls us aside through 
providential circumstances from our regular work, He has 
something new to teach us, or some new vision is presented 
which lures us onward to yet greater and better things for 
Him. So it was with Mrs. Farmer while she waited at 
Wucheo and Mr. Hess and her husband were endeavoring 
to get a suitable location in Liucheo. 

[November 12.] I went with Mrs. A to her mothers' meet- 
ing, for I have been feeling for sometime that God wanted me 
to do something of the kind to get hold of the women. Poor 
women of China! How hard to get the gospel to them! They 
have so little time to come and hear the truth. Preached to a Man- 
darin woman nearly an hour. 

[November 13.] Letter from Mr. Farmer, still no house bought. 

[November 15.] I only want Him and what He gives. The 
house in Liucheo in His time, the very place, and just the money 
besides our $1,100.00 that He wills. Thy will be done. — I love to do 
Thy will. 

[November 18.] The Lord has been speaking to my heart for 
months about an industrial school for girls, and to-day He seemed 
to pour into my heart that he wanted me to do that, and that the 



Ada Beeson Farmer 183 

colleges at Meridian would take this work, the building, and start 
it until it is self-supporting. Lord, keep me true to the vision if 
it is of Thee. Also a burden for an opium refuge, and also an indus- 
trial school for the blind, perhaps in connection with the other indus- 
trial school. Lord, keep me looking to Thee until this is done in 
needy Kuangsi. Brother Hinkey preached on the thought, 
"Not throwing off the yoke." God had been showing me these 
waiting days that He had more to accomplish through me here than 
in active work. Lord, let me know it all, and do it all. 

We shall see later before the close of Mrs. Farmer's 
life that this vision of greater usefulness was not given her 
in vain, for to this school for girls she gave the strength 
and prayers of her last days. 

Mr. Hess and the writer spent more than two months 
at Liucheo endeavoring to buy a suitable place, but all 
seemed in vain. How little we can fathom the purpose 
and plans of God ! Although days and hours were spent in 
earnest and importunate prayer and fasting that He would 
give us a house where we could live comfortably, and 
above all, a place worthy of the gospel of Christ, yet the 
best that we could do was to rent an old dwelling on the 
same street as the preaching chapel, one side of which 
leaned at such an angle that we often felt that it might give 
way and crush us underneath. After contracting with a 
carpenter to floor one side of the house so Mrs. Farmer 
might have at least a place where she would not have to 
live on the bare ground, we returned to Wucheo. 

She had not been well for some little time, having a 
cough which we have ever believed was contracted while 
living in the back part of the Chinese reception-room at 
P'ingloh, which at times was very damp. There were also 
other hardships of living which are unavoidable in pioneer 
mission work. We did not feel that she should go to Liu- 
cheo and live on the lower floor under the bad sanitary 
conditions which prevailed at the place we had rented; but 
she pleaded so hard, as her heart was already there, and 
had been for a long time. She said she firmly believed that 
God had heard her prayer and that He would deliver her 
from her cough and make her well. Accordingly the morn- 
ing of November twenty-third found us on the river launch 



1 84 Ada Beeson Farmer 

ready to be off for Kweip'ing, where we then would take a 
small native boat and complete the journey, as steamers ran 
only as far as Kweip'ing the water being too low to admit 
the ascension of the rapids from that point. After spend- 
ing a happy Sabbath with Mr. and Mrs. Fee, we were off 
Monday for Liucheo. About ten days was passed upon the 
little boat. December sixth, we arrived at a small place on 
the river bank called Kilah, from which, if one goes on by 
boat, is about twenty-five miles from Liucheo and if over- 
land, only four miles. Ox-carts may be procured to haul 
the heavy baggage. We decided to walk in from Kilah 
rather than remain on the boat another day. 

[December 6.] Up a little earlier this morning, had breakfast 
and prayers. Reached Kilah at twelve, noon. Tried to get an ox- 
cart, but failed; hired a coolie. Wilmoth and I, with San Tsie 
and Mr. lien's little boy, walked to Liucheo, twelve li, reaching 
here at three-thirty p. m. Found the floor boards not down. Praise 
God, I am at last here! As we stood on the bank of the river wait- 
ing for the ferry my heart was full of praise and gratitude to God 
for at last letting me come to the place and people that have so long 
been on my heart. God, give us many souls! 

It did not take a very long time to get straightened out 
and ready for work at Liucheo, because there was not much 
to straighten. Household furniture had not been shipped 
from P'ingloh, but by using Chinese bedboards with a straw 
mattress and plenty of bedding to take away the hardness 
of the boards, a Chinese dining-table, an improvised cup- 
board made of milk boxes, and a Chinese writing-desk, 
etc., the otherwise bare and uninviting room was made by 
Mrs. Farmer's deft hands, clean and cosy enough for any 
one. 

In a life so deeply spiritual and consecrated to God's 
service as hers, one might think that she was incapable of 
condescending to the commonplace, or had any leisure for 
the little pleasantries of life. But no one was happier 
than she, and more ready to participate in good clean fun. 
And is it not true after all, that the people whose hearts 
are right with God and who live in His will are the hap- 
piest of earth's creatures? 



Ada Beeson Farmer 185 

We were the only two white people in this large city, and 
while planning something for the Chinese, Mrs. Farmer 
felt that even if there were only two, and those two hus- 
band and wife, Christmas should be celebrated in the "old- 
time way" just for fun. Accordingly, she planned that 
stockings should be hung up and the little gifts that we 
had for each other should be put in them. 

It is quite noticeable that as Christmas draws near each 
year finances seem to get lower, when they are most needed 
for the many little wants of the holiday season. On Christ- 
mas Eve she writes: 

Still looking to God for money; not enough to pay servants. Wil- 
moth's Christmas gift is well hid. We are to play the children and 
hang up our stockings to-night. Baked cake and made candy. While 
making candy the mail came and our allowance. Praise God, He 
never fails! Wilmoth fixed my stocking and I his. 

[December 25.] Up early and saw what we had. After break- 
fast we, with the Chinese, gathered in our study and had our Christ- 
mas. Mr. Uen preached on the birth of Christ; all testified. I was 
almost too full for utterance. Wilmoth gave Holy Communion — 
blessed service. Ate Christmas dinner and went for a long walk. 
Praise God for first Christmas in Liucheo! Christ at last held up 
here! 

Her birthday came five days later. 

[December 29.] As my birthday is on Sunday, Wilmoth said 
celebrate it to-day. He gave me a beautiful Chinese dressing-case. 
Mr. Uen, Uen Ri Ku, and children, gave me a vase and Chinese 
lily bulbs; Mr. Ch'en, two porcelain pencil holders. A K'ang shot 
off fire crackers and all came in, bowed and wished me peace, health, 
and power for God's work. At Chinese prayers Wilmoth read 
Psalm cxxi for me for the year, and Mr. Uen prayed a fine prayer 
for me. God, make me faithful. The message the Lord gave me, 
Isa. xliii.19. 

The new year of 1907 soon dawned and found Mrs. 
Farmer busily preaching the gospel. Her diary for 1907 
has a record for only about three months, as she unex- 
pectedly returned to America in April. 

[January 1, 1907.] The Lord gave me no message from the 
Word other than He gave me on my birthday for the year. Isa. 
xliii.19; Job xxii.21; Eph. v.17; Col i.19; Eph. 1. 17-18. Lord, 
work out Thy will in me. When I look back over this past year 
my heart is full of praise to God for His great love and goodness 



186 Ada Beeson Farmer 

to me, for spirit, soul and body; how He has supplied all our needs, 
though in many hard places. May I take more from Him this 
coming year, and let Him live out His life in me unhindered. 

[January 6.] I awoke and waited upon God for a message to 
the women, as I did not prepare the day before. He gave me John 
xiv.i-6 especially, "Jesus, the Truth, the Way, the Life." The 
women crowded in and there were not enough seats for them; such 
a hubbub! Half of them seemed to want to talk at the same time, 
and some wanted to look at the hymn-book. I had a hard time 
preaching, but there were some few who listened and I got through. 
Then asked Ri Ku to speak. Then I taught some to sing "Jesus 
Loves Me," and several of them tried to sing. We did not get 
to have dinner until three p. m., and then I just had to go off and 
leave a crowd of women in the reception-room. 

The search for a suitable place was continued, for the 
house in which Mrs. Farmer lived was unfit for a woman 
and the mission work. During the month of January, two 
or three desirable places were offered for sale, but the Chi- 
nese idea of the foreigner's wealth ( ?) caused them to bar- 
gain at such covetous prices that it was out of the question 
to close the trade; but so much earnest and importunate 
prayer had gone up to God for a house it is not a matter 
of surprise that He in a short while rewarded our efforts 
and prayers. 

The readers of this biography who live in America and 
other Western lands have little idea of the difficulty of 
securing suitable premises in a new place in the interior of 
China. The lieing of the "middle men" and balking of 
trades by unfortunate sellers and fabulous prices sometimes 
makes the soul weary of life and one is driven almost to 
despair. 

[January 9.] We spent much time this morning praying about 
the houses. I tried to study but could not, so let the teacher go 
and spent the time in prayer. There were twenty-seven women at 
the women's meeting. 

[January 11.] To-day, five years ago, I sailed out of San Fran- 
cisco ; left homeland and all that was dear to me in His keeping, and 
followed Him to China to bring in some of the "other sheep." Praise 
God for these five years ; for the privilege of witnessing to thousands 
of dear women who had never heard of Jesus. I wish I could see 
more fruit from my labors; but I am to sow and perhaps some one 
else to water, and God will in season give the increase. May it be 



Ada Beeson Farmer 187 

thousands! Praise God for health and life for these five years when 
many thought I should not come. 

Work among the women in China is very hard, as they 
do not have the freedom to go and come as do the men. 
Again, they are so burdened down with household duties 
that they have little leisure, and to make matters still 
worse, so few can read and write and they are so ignorant 
and superstitious. It taxes the skill and patience of lady 
missionaries to reach this class, and it often has to be done 
by the "here a little and there a little" method — here a 
verse of gospel song, there a Scripture phrase; to-day a lit- 
tle sentence prayer, to-morrow one or two questions and 
answers in the catechism — If they can not come to the 
chapel, then the missionary goes to the home, and while 
the woman sits and makes shoes, cares for the baby, sews, 
and does the ten thousand other things which fall to the 
lot of the average Chinese woman, she teaches her the way 
of life. "Precept upon precept, line upon line." 

[January 13.] To-day we sat a long time waiting for the women 
to come and Mrs. Long, over the way, came in and as there was 
only one I changed my message and spoke on "The lost sheep." She 
seemed earnest — save her, Lord. After the meeting four others 
came, one a Mrs. Li from T'enghsien; she heard the gospel from 
Miss L. Landis and has come every meeting since she knew I was 
here. She seems true and asked good earnest questions. She wanted 
to know how to worship and wanted to learn to pray. I prayed 
for her and then she repeated a prayer after me. She went out 
of the house repeating the prayers. Lord, follow her by Thy Spirit, 
and may she not stop until she knows her sins forgiven. The thought 
of the industrial school is more on my heart than ever. 

[January 20.] No women came so I had a long time in prayer 
and such a burden for the industrial school and the work as a whole ; 
and why the school should be here, and why industrial ; first, be- 
cause the Cantonese schools can not educate and train our Man- 
darin-speaking people; second, it should be here because this is 
the center geographically; third, because China is looking up in 
Western industry and learning, therefore, now is The time "To 
strike while the iron is hot;" fourth, because they have no such 
Government school here; fifth, because God has burned it into my 
soul and I believe has given me the key to the situation ; sixth, 
because I believe God is training the helpers; seventh, because I be- 
lieve He will send the means (mostly apart from the board), till it 



188 Ada Beeson Farmer 

is self-supporting. God keep me true to the vision, and at the same 
time, let Thee do and lead, and me follow. Thou art able. 

[January 23.] While I was in the room talking to the Bible- 
woman San Tsie called and said there was a woman to preach to, 
so we both went out. It was one who had come in to sell eggs. We 
preached to her a long time and she said, "This doctrine suits my 
heart;" and kept saying it. Poor soul, how I long for her to really 
know what it is to belong to Jesus! A beggar came in with her 
baby. She is from the village about three days'' journey from here. 
The last three crops have failed and many of their villages have 
scattered out to beg. She is the second wife. I gave her some warm 
rice and potatoes, and San Tsie gave her some bean curd. I did 
so pity her. We preached to her. 

As at P'ingloh, so in Liucheo, Mrs. Farmer soon began 
meetings for the children who could be coaxed in. 

[January 25.] The children were gathering by twelve, noon, but 
they waited until I ate dinner, then we had a fine meeting. Some 
few have learnd to sing "Jesus Loves Me," and can repeat the 
whole hymn ; others three verses, and others less, according to the 
time they have come, or their size. I then asked the questions on 
the hymn and explained how Jesus died on the cross for us, and drew 
one to let them see. There were forty present. Lord, bless them 
and save souls from among them! 

In a few days the beggar woman returned bringing a 
companion with her. They were not professional beggars, 
but poor country people reduced for a time to extreme pov- 
erty on account of the failure of the rice crops. Mrs. Far- 
mer says, "We then gave the two beggar women each a 
pair of buckets to carry water to make a living. They 
were so grateful. We felt that was God's way to help the 
poor, that is, "help them to help themselves." By giving 
them the buckets, which cost Mrs. Farmer very little, she 
tested their willingness to do what they could to relieve 
their distress and also paved the way for a future visit to 
their village when the gospel might be presented to the 
whole clan. 

How truly characteristic it is of a devout and saintly 
soul that while it is filled with the presence and power of 
the Holy Sprit yet thirsts for more. 

Insatiate to the Spring I fly, 
I drink, and yet am ever dry. 

It was eminently true of Mrs. Farmer. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 189 

[February 10.] We went to prayer and the power of God came 
upon me so great that I could only weep and groan before the 
Lord for a long time. The burden of my soul was, "Lord, enable 
us to work the 'greater works' " to Thy glory. Let us not fall 
short! Lord, work out Thy will in and through us to the salva- 
tion of souls. 

[February n.] This morning while at breakfast we heard a 
sound of some soul in great distress. Wilmoth went out on the 
street to see what it was, but could hear nothing. When he came 
in we still heard it. We then asked the Chinese. Mr. Ch'en said 
it was a near neighbor who was about to die, his hands and feet 
already cold, and he was afraid to die. Our hearts were stirred for 
we knew he had reason to fear. We asked Brother Ch'en to go 
and speak to him about his soul, fearing that we might not be able 
to get in. After he returned, Wilmoth went with him and we prayed 
here. When Wilmoth got there he was like a wild man, spitting in 
every direction. Wilmoth talked to him and asked him if he would 
like him to pray to the true God for him. He said "y es >" so he 
did, and while he was praying the man was quieted. We continued 
to hold him up in prayer for God to heal his body and save his soul. 
He was much better at noon when I went over to see how he was. 

February thirteenth, was Chinese New Year, and ac- 
companied with the usual festivities, ceremonies, etc. The 
weather was rainy and cold, but did not hinder the few 
Christians in the house and one from the city meeting for 
the New-Year service. 

This morning we arose early and dressed in our good clothes. I 
cleaned up the bed-room and had study arranged for the meeting. 
Nearly eight a. m., Brother Pao and Mr. Li were here. All went 
into the k'eh fang" (reception-room) to "pai nien" (New-Year con- 
gratulations), then we came in for meeting. We women sat in the 
bed-room and the men in the study. Wilmoth preached a New- 
Year sermon from Phil. iii. 13-14. The Lord blessed him notwith- 
standing he could not sleep for the racket last night. After the 
sermon each gave a testimony and then we partook of the Lord's 
Supper. It was a precious New- Year service. Praise God for these 
souls who did not bow the knee to the idols of this land ! Praise 
God for how earnest brother Pao seems! 

Mrs. Farmer's diary is continued no further than March 
third, but a letter dated March ninth from which we quote 
a paragraph, will serve to bring before us the next event 
which while not altogether unexpected, yet at first seemed 
inopportune; that is, her return to America in April. 



190 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Throughout Mrs. Farmer's journal from January to 
March there are frequent references to the bad state of 
health of her husband, and she spent hours in prayer for 
his restoration. But there comes ever and anon, a time 
in the work and life of all missionaries and other Christian 
workers when they must stop and rest. In nature it is God's 
order for restful night to succeed the busy day and give all 
the world a chance to build up strength for to-morrow's 
burdens. The Sabbatic periods of Old Testament history 
have a far deeper significance in God's economy than is 
generally seen on the surface. Jesus sat upon the well curb 
while the disciples went to buy bread to refresh His and 
their tired bodies. After a strenuous period of preaching 
and healing He said to His disciples, "Come ye your- 
selves apart and rest a while." The ceasing from work 
and resting tired nerves and brain is the lesson that every 
Christian worker has to learn, sooner or later. It is a hard 
lesson for missionaries to master on their first term of 
service. The need is so great and things go so slowly in 
the East that they feel they must do it all at once ! Older 
missionaries seem to go so slowly, and at a kind of sedan- 
chair gait, while they, fresh from the homeland, want 
things to run like automobiles and fly like aeroplanes! It 
is good that man's strength is limited, for he soon finds 
that the advice of older heads is best and that an hour or 
two a day spent in helpful recreation and the annual rest 
of vacation, with a furlough home every six or seven years, 
are absolutely essential to his well-being. Even where 
workers take conscientious care of their bodies and hus- 
band their strength, yet the stress of mission life is such 
that they must have rest now and then. Mrs. Farmer says 
in the letter above referred to: 

We have not succeeded in getting a house yet, and Mr. Farmer is 
very nervous, so much so that he has not been able to do full work 
for some time. He was better for a while and then worse. Yester- 
day was a good day and he was up all day, did a little writing and 
went calling; but last night he had a very hard night with his 
heart and nerves and to-day he is not at all well. If he does not 
get better we will go down to Wucheo where he can have a quiet 
place, for there is none here, and then if he does not get well, we 



Ada Beeson Farmer 191 

may go home. We are looking to God for him, but he needs quiet 
and rest. 

We have quoted the above to show the occasion of the 
return to America at this time, and, while primarily it was 
for the sake of the writer's health, yet when we come to 
consider all that Mrs. Farmer had passed through both 
at P'ingloh and Liucheo, the gender of the pronoun of the 
last clause of the above paragraph could be changed, and 
read, "She needs rest and quiet." 

While she felt God's time had come for them to leave 
China for a while, and realizing that if she went away the 
Bible-woman would also leave and thus the women of Liu- 
cheo be left without any one to tell them of Christ until 
the mission could arrange to send some other lady mission- 
ary there, which would not be very soon, she wept again and 
again. She was the first white woman who had ever been 
in the city, and God was opening the hearts and homes of 
the women to her; for here, as at P'ingloh, few were the 
lanes and streets where her willing feet did not go carry- 
ing the glad tidings of salvation. It did seem, on the face 
of it, so unfortunate, just as she was getting such a good 
hold on the people, that she should be compelled to leave. 
We well remember the day she left Liucheo. She knelt in 
the little boat in prayer, weeping, as the city faded from our 
view. Later on in America on the platform of the mis- 
sionary conventions, how graphically she pictured the 
women of Liucheo without any woman to tell them of the 
Savior. Mrs. Farmer's love for Christ was the great pas- 
sion of her soul, and then next, her love for those He loved 
and for whom He gave His life. 

Before closing this chapter we should say for the glory 
of God that Mrs. Farmer saw an abundant answer to all 
of her prayers for a house. Through the instrumentality of 
the Bible-woman, one of the best sites in the city was pur- 
chased at a very nominal price, on which was a house 
which after being repaired served as a very good mission 
home and chapel until the erection of the nice building 
known as the Beeson Memorial, which now graces the 
spot. The earnest money for the purchase was paid down 



192 Ada Beeson Farmer 

the day we left the city and the brother who took charge 
of the men's work and station paid over the remainder in 
due time. "Oh, how great is Thy goodness which Thou 
hast laid up for them that fear Thee; which Thou hast 
wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of 
men." "Delight thyself also in the Lord: and He shall 
give thee the desires of thy heart. Commit thy way unto 
the Lord: trust also in Him: and He shall bring it to pass." 



COME YE YOURSELVES APART 

Come ye yourselves, apart and rest awhile, 
Weary, I know it, of the press and throng, 

Wipe from your brow the sweat and dust of toil, 
And in My quiet strength be strong. 

Come ye aside from all the world holds dear, 
For converse the world has never known, 

Alone with Me and with My Father here, 
With Me and with My Father not alone. 

Come tell Me all that ye have said and done, 
Your victories and failures, hopes and fears, 

I know how hardly souls arc wooed and won; 
My choicest wreaths are always wet with tears. 

Come ye and rest; the journey is too great, 
And ye will faint beside thy way and sink; 

The bread of life is here for you to eat, 
And here for you the wine of love to drink. 

Then fresh from converse with your Lord, return, 
And work till daylight softens into even ; 

The brief hours are not lost in which ye learn 
More of your Master and His rest in heav'n. 

A. N. 



CHAPTER XIV 

Visit Home. Mandarin Industrial Training School. 
Conventions, Etc. 

The folded hands seem idle; 

If folded at His word, 
J Tis a holy service, trust me, 

In obedience to the Lord. 

Anna Shipton. 

And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recom- 
mended to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. 
And when they had come and gathered the church together, they 
rehearsed all that God had done with them and how he had opened 
the door of faith unto the Gentiles. — Acts xiv.26, 27. 

RS. Farmer, in company with her husband, 
sailed from Hongkong, April 31, on the 
steamship, Shinano Maru. She was a 
very poor sailor and generally spent the 
first few days of an ocean voyage in her 
cabin and usually in her berth. 

She had hoped to bring the subject of 
the Mandarin training school for girls before the annual 
conference which was to convene in July; but now that she 
was returning home it seemed as if this was to be thwarted. 
Her nature was not one to yield to seeming obstacles, and 
so notwithstanding seasickness, she spent the days between 
Hongkong and Japan busily putting into a readable form 
the convictions concerning the school, which had been burn- 
ing in her soul for the previous months. Having embodied 
her thoughts in a paper, she mailed it back from Japan to 
Miss Funk, a very dear fellow worker and friend of hers, 
requesting that since she herself could not be present at 
conference, Miss Funk read it for her to the assembly. 
How forceful and well-thought-out were Mrs. Farmer's 
ideas upon the subject is seen from the paper which we sub- 
mit below. 



c 



196 



Ada Beeson Farmer 



Mandarin Industrial Training Schools. 

The past five years in China I have had a strong and growing 
conviction regarding industrial work for our schools which will 
render them self-supporting, and in that way use less foreign money 
to educate the children of our Chinese Christians and bring in the 
heathen at the same time; train our future teachers, preachers, Bible- 
women, colporters, etc., besides instill in the Chinese Christians 
industry, the value of money, labor, and time, instead of having 
them come into the school and church as some have done, for what 
they can get out of it in the way of dollars and cents; and on the 
other hand not keep others out because they have no way of making 
a living. In other words, have them instead of depending on the 
church, foreign money and foreigners, learn to depend upon them- 
selves for what they should do, and upon God for what He is to do 
apart from self-effort. This last fall, during my waiting days on 
the hilltop, God spoke so forcibly to me regarding industrial work 
for the Mandarin training school that it was an ever-present burden 
on my soul for days and nights. I could not get away from it; but 
cried unto God to work it all out. Since that time I have spent 
much time and prayer and study on the subject, and am more con- 
vinced than ever that God is calling us to it, and that soon. May 
we as a conference consider this subject faithfully, thoughtfully 
and prayerfully in the light of New China with her present needs and 
open doors and our responsibility. 

I. Why have Mandarin training schools when we already have 
Cantonese training schools? 

Because they can not meet the demand of the Mandarin district. 
Some few scholars can come down to the Cantonese schools and 
get some Bible training; but much of their time is wasted and 
instruction wasted on them because they can not understand the 
Cantonese language. Of course, I mean those who do not understand 
Cantonese, and we have many such, and will have more as the 
work grows. But this is only the scholar class and how much worse 
for our young boys and men who are not educated, and whom 
we want to put in school where they will be educated, saved and 
trained. They go to Cantonese schools, learn Cantonese, and then 
go back to the Mandarin district to teach Mandarin ; but they 
know Cantonese which they have learned at the Cantonese school, 
and how can they teach Mandarin? They can not do it properly, 
therefore, we have no suitable teachers for our schools, or preachers 
for our pulpits. 

The girls and women of the Mandarin district, to my mind, 
absolutely can not be educated and trained in the Cantonese schools. 
I will give you the case of Uen Ri Ku who assisted me as Bible- 
woman last winter and spring at Liucheo. She spoke both Man- 
darin and Cantonese and had studied Mandarin when a child, there- 



Ada Beeson Farmer 197 

fore all her book knowledge when she entered the school at Wucheo 
was Mandarin, so had every advantage. She studied in the school 
three years, was sa/ed there, learned much doctrine and many char- 
acters; but when she was sent to labor in the Mandarin district she 
could not read her Mandarin Bible intelligently in the meetings, 
and was constantly stumbling over characters. She would know 
them in Cantonese ; but was not sure of the pronunciations and tones 
in Mandarin, therefore, her reading conveyed little or no meaning 
to her hearers. How much worse if she were to teach I I or whom- 
ever she would work with, would have to go over each lesson and 
book to teach her the proper pronunciation and tones. This we could 
afford to do while opening up the work, until God gives us sufficient 
workers, as He has done in the Cantonese school; but how awful it 
would be if we had to do this on all of our stations and keep it 
up for the years to come! Now this example is of one who spoke 
Cantonese and could get all the instruction, besides, knew some 
Mandarin characters. But what could we expect of a young girl 
of the Mandarin district going to the Cantonese school who knows 
no characters to begin with, and can not speak Cantonese? I say 
it is perfectly absurd for that girl to come out of the Cantonese 
school to be a Mandarin teacher, or an efficient Bible-woman. Not 
any more could you send a young girl to France for her entire edu- 
cation, and when it is completed, send her to America to teach the 
English language. 

Some one may say, "Have one Mandarin teacher in each school 
and the difficulty will be obviated." I say it will not, for that one 
teacher can not give all the lectures on the different subjects, there- 
fore the Mandarin students get only the benefit of the one or two 
lectures in Mandarin. The Mandarin teacher could not give all 
of the instructions the Mandarin pupils need in the study of the 
character. There would soon have to be as many Mandarin teachers, 
in proportion, as Cantonese teachers, and it would resolve itself 
into practically two schools, one Cantonese and one Mandarin. So, 
since that is the case, why not have the two schools in their respective 
districts where their own language is spoken and avoid all trouble, 
confusion and extra expenditure of money, etc. If one school is 
sufficient for both Cantonese and Mandarin, why have we not already 
joined with Central and Western China, having one school for all 
China? Absurd! It would never do, and we would see sooner 
or later that the one would not do here in South China for both 
Cantonese and Mandarin, so why not see it now before the Man- 
darin work is crippled longer for lack of efficient trained workers 
and proper schools for the young, and until we are compelled to see 
it and take this step. It seems this is enough to show the neces- 
sity of the Mandarin schools for Mandarin people in the Manda- 
rin district. 



198 



Ada Beeson Farmer 



II. Why industrial schools, and what feature of industry? 

1. Because there is in China, at present, a demand for indus- 
trial work that there never was before. To-day China is reaching 
out for things new and Western, — Western education and West- 
ern industry. The former, we as a mission do not feel that we 
are called to give them and have not fitted ourselves for that work; 
but the latter, industrial work, we can give them and give them 
properly and thoroughly. If we do not use this opportunity to reach 
China's young boys and girls, men and women, to give them the 
gospel of Jesus Christ, they will go elsewhere for industrial instruc- 
tion and will be heathen. I believe it can be made a great evange- 
listic agency. I see from the papers and journals that Canton has 
a school to teach China's women and girls industry, and has sent 
to Japan for teachers; so, you see, they are reaching out for it. 
Why do not we see the signs of the times and fall into God's order 
for us to reach a class of China's young for God ? The door is open, 
shall we enter? 

2. To teach the Chinese to value an education by working their 
way through school at some industrial work. Some of the greatest 
men of all ages have been those who have learned the value of 
an education and of time by working their way through school. Just 
look at history and this will be found true in men of State, men 
of letters, and men of the church. Then why not help our Chinese 
brothers and sisters to be great by laboring with their hands as well 
as their heads to obtain an education? While none of us are what 
the world counts great, yet many of us are here in China to-day as 
ambassadors of Jesus Christ, because we had to work our way 
through school, and thereby learned the real value of an education 
and of life in general. So let us enable the Chinese, with so much 
desire to obtain what we have, by real work with the hands, to 
gain an education, rather than spoil them by giving it to them. 

3. This brings us to the next great reason why we should have 
industrial work in our schools ; and that is, to put real value on labor 
for the scholar; yea, a premium, rather than have them go through 
the school as they have done heretofore, too much of a gentleman 
to do any manual labor and not willing to rough it with us for- 
eigners and bear the hardships that are really necessary to take the 
gospel of Jesus Christ to China's millions who are yet in utter dark- 
ness. As we know, some are not willing to turn their hands to open 
a chapel door, or to arrange the seats, while others go so far as to 
say they would like someone to cook for them as they have never 
cooked. If they are wanted to "walk the roads" and sell books, 
they have not the strength and the work is too much for a gentleman 
to do! Now, if giving them industrial work can put a value and 
premium on labor and inspire respect for those who do labor, they, 
too, will gradually fall in line and do likewise. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 199 

4. Again, self-reliance is one of the first things that a child should 
be taught; and second, reliance upon God. Nothing develops real 
character in a boy or girl, man or woman, more than to be taught 
self-reliance; and in no way can they better get this than by giving 
them some kind of work to do to make them pay for their own 
living. We want men and women, boys and girls, ready for any 
emergency, for any work, for any position; and they can only be 
secured by training them. We do not want to turn out "babies," 
as far as enduring hardships for God and the salvation of their 
own people is concerned; but we want men and women who are 
ready to turn their hands to what comes for them to do — real sol- 
diers of the Cross. 

5. By having industrial work for the pupils so as to pay expenses, 
it will enable us to have our schools in a short time, self-supporting. 
Self-reliance and self-support go together; therefore, after a short 
time, the foreign money that is being used to educate and train 
Chinese workers can be put to other purposes; such as extending the 
gospel to untouched regions, building station-houses, chapels, etc., 
that are so much needed. As our training schools are being run at 
present, the amount of foreign money used is on the increase, and 
as the school enlarges there is never any end to putting foreign money 
in school work. But, if we have the industrial work to enable the 
pupils to pay their own expenses, the foreign money used diminishes 
and soon stops. Of course the building, apparatus, and the school, 
must be put in running order; but that is only for a short time, 
and then the school is self-supporting. The work in our mission 
is enlarging in all lands, more native workers engaged, and salaries 
of some on the increase. In many lands expenses are greater than 
formerly, and our board is having a hard time to meet the present 
demands; therefore, we should do all we can to put our work on a 
self-supporting and self-propagating basis. To have the Mandarin 
school self-supporting would be a good step in that direction. 

Some may say that we can not make the schools self-supporting, 
but I say, "What others have done, we can do." And I understand 
that others have done it in China. And I notice in the "Woman's 
Work" or "Chinese Recorder," where others in the North have 
done so and made a real success of it. Miss Parmenter of Central 
China has done some kind of industrial work in her school for 
years, until now it is self-supporting with the exception of the head 
teacher. It is no experiment. 

6. Of course the kinds of industry depend largely upon the de- 
mand, but I had thought to begin with, for the women and girls, 
weaving, knitting, sewing by hand and on the machine, drawn work 
and embroidery. The articles derived from the first three to be 
sold to the Chinese, and from the latter for the foreign market, 
which I could easily look up while at home. The men and boys could 



200 Ada Beeson Farmer 

do weaving, knitting, tailoring, shoe-making, perhaps baking, and 
other things as the market may demand. 

III. Another reason for industrial work for our Mandarin schools 
is that God seems to be working at both ends of the line. Here the 
door is open — a fine suitable property has been secured in Liucheo, 
the center geographically of our Mandarin district, which pupils from 
all over the Mandarin district can reach with less trouble and ex- 
pense than any other station. When I felt such a burden and assur- 
ance that God would supply the means to start these industrial schools 
running, it came to me that no one would appreciate and feel the 
need of such schools as the Meridian colleges, where hundreds of 
young men and women are in like manner enabled to obtain an 
education, find Christ as their Savior and Sanctifier, and many 
receive their call to some foreign field; therefore, I wrote and asked 
them how they would like to take the support of similar schools for 
the Mandarin district in Kuangsi Province, at the same time looking 
to God to lay it upon their hearts to do it, if it was His will for us. 
A few days before leaving Wucheo I received a letter saying that 
they felt it a fine thing if the mission allowed us to take up that 
line of work. Of course, I told them that I had not spoken to any 
one at that time but Mr. Farmer, and that it was only a conviction 
which I believed was from God. So now, if the conference feels 
free before God to act upon this, we will be able to push it at the 
Meridian colleges this winter, and I believe, turn a mighty power, 
now latent, from those two colleges through the Christian and Mis- 
sionary Alliance and much to our South China work. There are 
men, women, means and prayer that I believe God wants to use 
through our board, and now is the time to act. But they want 
something definite, and industrial schools will appeal to them as 
nothing else will at present. May God's will be revealed to you, 
dear fellow-laborers, at this conference, and enable you to take 
some action. 

My thought for industrial work was not only to benefit the 
regular students in the school; but, as the work grows and there 
are out-stations where there will be no one to teach the women, and 
they can not leave their homes for a long time, that we organize 
women's classes where the women from these stations can come and 
spend two or three months in the year. They can work half the 
time, pay expenses, learn to do the things we think necessary for a 
wife and mother to know, namely, cutting and making their own 
clothes, knitting, etc., which so few who work in the fields have 
learned to do; learn the gospel and characters, and go home to make 
better wives and mothers and more intelligent Christians among their 
sisters. 

I would have much preferred being in conference in person to 
read my own paper and meet the different points of discussion ; but 
since God has led us home, I commend it to His care and your 



Ada Beeson Farmer 201 

thoughtful and prayerful attention and ask you to please study each 
thought of the dire necessity of Mandarin schools for Mandarin peo- 
ple in the Mandarin district. China's present open door for industrial 
work; what an evangelistic agency it can be made; how industrial 
work will teach the Chinese scholar to appreciate his education; 
how it causes the workers turned out of our schools to value, yea, 
to put a premium on labor rather than think themselves too much 
of a gentlemen to do any manual labor; how it will help them to 
endure hardness as good soldiers and be willing to suffer a little 
inconvenience along with us to take the gospel to those who have 
it not; and thus instill within them self-reliance; and last, but not 
least, self-support for our schools, and far less money used for edu- 
cation, which means more work and less money expended. Also 
note how God is supplying the needed money and sending us home 
at this time under God to put it through. 

The paper was very favorably received, commented upon 
at the conference, and the whole matter referred to the 
mission board at home, as Mrs. Farmer would have the 
opportunity, while in America, to consult with them in ref- 
erence to the schools. 

None but those who have lived abroad for the first time, 
and especially in the East, where everything is so different 
from the West, can truly appreciate the keen pleasure of 
a trip home after several years of absence. This pleasure 
is accentuated all the more when it means the reunion with 
those loved ones from whom one has been separated so 
long. All latent patriotism is stirred to its depths as the 
ship touches home shores once more. And what shall we 
say in reference to the long-anticipated visit to the old home- 
place, the greetings of father and mother, brothers and 
sisters, and dear friends! This joy is much deeper, too, 
when it concerns Christians, for on both sides there has 
been a great sacrifice; on the part of the one who has been 
laboring in the cause of Christ abroad and on the part of 
the loving hearts who have laid them upon God's altar 
for such service. 

Such a happy home-coming was Mrs. Farmer's, and al- 
though the face of the dear mother was missing from the 
circle, yet the remainder of the family and friends did all 
in their power to make up for it, and a happy time it was. 
At seasons like this the heart is too full for utterance! The 



202 Ada Beeson Farmer 

most commonplace and trivial object brings up thoughts 
of the past too deep for words. We know of a missionary 
who on reaching America went into a waffle-house in Seat- 
tle, and, as he tried to eat the nice crisp, buttered waffles 
which the waiter had served him, could not keep back the 
tears; but made a rather funny-looking spectacle to the 
restaurateur and other guests. They saw just common 
waffles, but the missionary saw the old home-place and the 
family seated at breakfast — the old black mammy manip- 
ulating the waffle-irons and trying to supply the voracious 
appetite of the children about the family board. 

It would be difficult to describe the happiness of Mrs. 
Farmer those days. A nature so rich and full as hers did 
not fail to enjoy all that God so lovingly showered upon 
her those home-coming days of furlough. While God gives 
us the pure, true pleasures of life, yet even they are tran- 
sient, and He will not let the heart become so enamoured 
of this present world as to forget the one above where joy 
shall be everlasting, unmixed with sorrow. Here we have 
enough clouds to make us enjoy the sunshine when it re- 
turns; enough night to reveal the stars. So in the midst 
of the happy days of furlough, suddenly there came a sor- 
row into Mrs. Farmer's heart and life, and only those of 
her most intimate friends and loved ones knew how deeply 
she felt the loss of her little baby boy who came so suddenly 
and unexpectedly that the tiny life was transplanted above 
before it had time to take root in this earthly sphere. Yet 
not before the fond mother's love had become entangled 
in the tendrils of its little life. She had given so much of 
her time and talents to other people's children and her 
mother-heart looked forward with all the anticipation of 
which it was capable, to the birth of this her first and only 
child, for whom she had in prayer and vision mapped out 
a glorious Christian career. She had already determined 
by God's grace that her child, like Samuel of old, should 
be "lent to the Lord" all the days of his life. 

It was one of those inscrutable providences of God in 
which, when the soul is baffled and can find no explanation, 
resigns itself in submissive faith to Him who doeth all 



Ada Beeson Farmer 203 

things well. God alone knows how much it cost Mrs. Far- 
mer when the lid of the little white casket was nailed down 
upon all of the hopes and cherished plans of previous 
months. But even then, with tear-dimmed eyes, she could 
look up into the Father's face and say, "God knows best." 

Since writing the above we have come across a letter in 
which Mrs. Farmer speaks of the little babe and her feel- 
ings in regard to the matter. 

Our stay in America so far has not been as we thought and planned, 
but we take it as He planned and are happy in Him and His will 
for us. We can not understand why we were not allowed to have 
our darling son, but rest in His love and wisdom. All I can 
say is that I feel like a child that had looked forward to receiving 
some gift he greatly desired, and just as he received the gift it was 
taken from him and no reason given. But I, like him, can rest in 
my Father's love and wisdom in this, and know He did it all in 
love; for our good and His glory. 

Of course you know how one misses the little darlings and the 
ache of the heart, and I believe God is not displeased at that as 
long as there is no rebellion, and there is truly none in my heart. 
I shall never forget his sweet little face as he lay on the bed by 
me after he had been dressed. He looked just like he was asleep 
and I could hardly realize that it was the sleep that is to last until 
Jesus comes, but what comfort that brings! 

The months of the fall and winter of 1907 were largely 
divided between Atlanta, Georgia, and Meridian, Missis- 
sippi, with visits to one or two other places to see relatives. 
As soon as Mrs. Farmer had recovered normal health and 
strength she was as ready as ever to serve and be made a 
blessing. It mattered not where she was, her hands seemed 
always full of kind deeds for those about her, and although 
she was at home on a furlough from China, yet she never 
felt that she could take a furlough from work in the king- 
dom of Christ. Her sweet, winning disposition was such 
that she could not be anywhere long without people soon 
loading her down with all kinds of service, and she per- 
formed everything intrusted to her so well that it was a de- 
light to ask her advice and aid in any matter. She just 
seemed to be a true embodiment of Christ's ideal of great- 
ness when He said, "But whosoever will be great among 
you, let him be your minister. And whosoever will be 



204 Ada Beeson Farmer 

chief among you let him be your servant." Did the cook 
fail to come ? then into the kitchen she went to help pre- 
pare the food; some one need a pair of crocheted slippers 
or baby sack? away clicked the ivory needles until the de- 
sired articles came out of the one long strand of thread 
as if by magic; some one is sick and needs a bath and 
nicely prepared food? send for Mrs. Farmer. Here is one 
who can not get a dress she is making to fit and hang cor- 
rectly; in a moment or two Mrs. Farmer's skillful fingers 
have brought it all about. Somebody's baby is fretful; 
and in a moment or so he is cooing and laughing as he sits 
upon Mrs. Farmer's knee and looks into her happy face, 
and listens as she sings: 

Here's a ball for baby, 
So big and soft and round. 

The phone bell rings and the Secretary of the Young 
Women's Christian Association wants to know if she will 
not address the young ladies to-morrow at such-and-such a 
time; of course the answer is, "Yes." Next Wednesday is 
the meeting-day for the Woman's Foreign Missionary So- 
ciety and the president wants her to give them an address; 

"All right, will be on hand." The pastor of the Fourth 
Street Methodist Church wants her to address his congrega- 
tion on China's women next Sabbath evening, will she come? 
"Yes," and soon she is busy with her Bible and notes on 
China and when the time arrives she is full of her subject 
and all are blessed who hear her. 

We have given the foregoing just to picture to our read- 
ers a little of what occupied her time. She had the art of 
doing the every-day little things of life so graciously that 
even the smallest thing seemed great, and all because she 
did it for His sake. 

In October, she attended the convention of the Holiness 
Union which met at Louisville, Kentucky, there speaking 
upon China and missions in general. The joy of the Lord 
was her strength, and amid all the busy cares of life she 
found time for a large correspondence. During this month 
she wrote to one who had written about the condition of 
a certain church and the prospect of a revival there. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 205 

We were so glad to get your letter and hear the news. Trust 
you will have a good meeting; but they only come where the 
church gets right first, so God will have His channel through which 
to work. I am glad to learn of some hungry ones there for the full 
truth. Tell them to yield to God and He will surely fill them, 
for He has said, "Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after 
righteousness, for they shall be filled." God is always ready and 
only waiting for people to get ready to let Him have His way with 
them. Praise God I ever learned it, and now I can say His will 
is the sweetest place, though through trials, testing, or sorrow. 
"Where Jesus is 'tis Heaven there." 

The Thanksgiving holidays were spent on a visit to her 
brother, Doctor J. L. Beeson, who has the chair of chem- 
istry and physics in the Georgia Normal and Industrial Col- 
lege, at Milledgeville, Georgia. The large crowd of young 
women there, especially those interested in foreign missions 
would never let her remain long in the city before having 
her give them an address. In a letter dated November 30, 
she says: 

I am to meet the mission-study classes in the college this after- 
noon and to speak to the young people of the Presbyterian Church 
to-morrow afternoon. . . . We are booked for the missionary rally 
at Meridian December 5 to 8, so we will have only one day in 
Atlanta to do our packing. We are asked by the Christian and 
Missionary Alliance to spend February and March through Mis- 
sissippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas and Florida. 

She went from Milledgeville to Meridian to attend the 
annual missionary rally held there by the two colleges. Hav- 
ing been a student volunteer herself, she was right at home 
with the young women and their missionary work, call and 
problems, and both in the public program and by private 
personal work did she prove herself a blessing during the 
rally. 

Her Christmas holidays were spent with her sister, Mrs. 
Conger, of Louisiana, and it was one of the happiest and 
most restful seasons she had while in America, the place 
being quiet and secluded. But even there she spoke sev- 
eral times on missions. From Louisiana she returned with 
her husband to Atlanta to be present at the annual conven- 
tion of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. As this so- 
ciety has a branch in Atlanta, she was always kept busy 



206 Ada Beeson Farmer 

while in the city and had anticipated and prepared for good 
work during the convention. But just in the midst of it 
she had a telegram calling her to the bedside of her sick 
father in Meridian, Mississippi. Going there she spent 
some time waiting upon him and a sick sister-in-law. This 
of course broke up her trip to Florida and other points. 

As soon as her father was well again she returned to 
Atlanta and began to make preparations for the summer 
convention work of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. 
A letter written near April, gives a hint as to the program 
for the summer months. 

We are planning to go to the annual May council which is the 
most important meeting of our Christian and Missionary Alliance 
during the year, and we want to attend. Besides, we have some 
important matters regarding the Mandarin training schools to discuss 
with the board and feel we should go. God also seems to be opening 
the way for at least one of us to go there. . . . The Christian and 
Missionary Alliance may call me out for convention work during 
the summer. You see, we can not know, and can only follow as 
He leads. . . . We leave Thursday morning for Nashville for the 
missionary conference, April 30 to May 3, returning here the fourth 
or fifth. We are to have plenty of time there to speak twice each 
for all the four days are to be given to missions. 

Well, we have not had a cook but one week in about six weeks, 
and often Mother Farmer has to go to town on business and I 
have had to spend much time helping, and then I have been helping 
to sew some and get up some new talks, besides the regular work 
of the Alliance and visiting the members. I have been very busy 
during the day, and when night comes, am too tired to write 
much. ... I know you are enjoying old Charley and the buggy 
these pretty days, and I wish I could share it with you. That was 
one of the things I expected to do when I came home — ride to my 
heart's content — but have had very little of it. 

The time spent at Nashville, mentioned in the foregoing 
letter, was one thoroughly enjoyed by Mrs. Farmer, for it 
was an opportunity to meet the circle of many dear friends 
and brethren. Her former relation to this band of Chris- 
tians has been fully set forth in an earlier chapter of this 
book. We give below from one of her letters her own 
comment on her visit there. 

We had a fine time with the brethren at Nashville. The Lord 
blessed and made us a blessing. All seemed so glad to see us and 



Ada Beeson Farmer 207 

pressed us to remain longer, but Mr. Farmer felt he was needed 
here and should return and do all he could before going to New 
York. What did me most good was the number of people that said 
they had been praying for us. Some said not one day had passed 
and they failed to pray for us. That is what counts for God's work. 

Her brother, Doctor J. W. Beeson, very much desired 
her to be present at the closing exercises of the Meridian 
Woman's College, but as the May council convened in New 
York from May twenty-sixth to the twenty-ninth, and these 
dates conflicted with commencement dates she had to de- 
cline, as she felt it more imperative to attend the council. 
She had, ever since being a member of the Christian and 
Missionary Alliance mission, desired to attend one of the 
annual May councils of this body. She always enjoyed a 
parliamentary assembly, for her keen intellectual acumen 
could well keep up with all questions before the house. She 
served on committees and greatly enjoyed the spiritual 
work of the occasion. 

Following this she was at the Nyack convention taking 
a prominent part in the meetings for the young people as 
well as the older ones. From Nyack, New York, she went 
to Anderson, Indiana, then to Indianapolis, and from there 
to Louisville, Kentucky. She also attended the conventions 
at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Beulah Park, Ohio, Pandora, 
Ohio, Atlanta, Georgia, and finally to Old Orchard, Maine. 

She did most efficient service at all of these places, al- 
ways willing to take the place assigned her whether one of 
prominence or not. Before speaking she steeped her soul 
in prayer and then poured forth her message with feeling 
and earnestness which always met with a response in the 
spiritually sympathetic audiences which she addressed. 

The bright summer began to wane and those glorious au- 
tumn days, which are heralded by the gaily-tinted foliage 
and bright sunshine and shadows, warned the missionaries 
that furlough days were nearly over and soon they must 
be again at the front in the thick of the battle. They had 
planned to return to China in the fall, but as the time drew 
nearer and nearer, funds were not sufficient to send them 
back at that time and so they had to wait two or three 
months later. While it afforded additional time for rest, 



208 Ada Beeson Farmer 

it also gave Mrs. Farmer opportunity to attend again the 
annual missionary rally at the Meridian colleges, and also 
the holiness convention in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Another project which Mrs. Farmer accomplished while 
at home was the matter of getting funds to build a memorial 
chapel at Liucheo in honor of her mother, and for this 
purpose she proposed to her brothers and sisters that all 
join together and each one furnish what he could toward 
this object. Her father also joining in, and money coming 
from other sources it was possible to put up the nice mis- 
sion house and chapel shown in this book. 

The last two months of 1908 were spent at Meridian. In 
a letter to her sister, dated December 21, 1908, she says: 

How time flies! Two months ago, to-day, was yours and father's 
birthday and we were there with you. We had hoped to be on 
our way to China ere this, still we are here. We had word from 
the board that we should not likely sail until January, some time. 
It is really hard to stay so long away from our work, but He knows 
best and we can say "Thy will be done." Mr. Farmer has improved 
more the past two or three months, seemingly, than all the other 
time together, so that may be why God is keeping us here this long. 

Before closing this chapter, we can not forbear reflect- 
ing that while the prolongation of the furlough time gave 
some added rest and Mrs. Farmer looked at it from the 
divine side, which is always the right viewpoint, often mis- 
sionaries are ready for their work and are delayed be- 
cause Christians at home withhold money which should be 
spent in the evangelization of the world. Missionaries find 
that even loved ones and members of their own families are 
ever willing to pay their transportation home from the 
field, and urge them to return even for the slightest pre- 
text, but when the time arrives for them to return to the 
work how selfishly tight the purse-strings are drawn, and 
often the missionary waits on and on. If he is a true sol- 
dier of the cross, he is sure to go back, and will go sooner 
or later, so why not bid him God speed in a real way by 
doing all you can to aid him, since in the providence of 
God you have missed the glorious honor of going your- 
self? How selfish is the best of human love after all! 



EZEKIEL 

And thus, O, Prophet-bard of old, 
Hast thou thy tale of sorrow told! 
The same which earth's unwelcome seers 
Have felt in all succeeding years. 
Sport of the changeful multitude, 
Nor calmly heard nor understood, 
Their song has seemed a trick of art, 
Their warnings but the actor's part. 
With bonds, and scorn, and evil will, 
The world requites its prophets still. 

So was it when the Holy One 
The garments of the flesh put on ! 
Men followed where the Highest led 
For common gifts of daily bread, 
And gross of ear, of vision dim, 
Owned not the godlike power of Him. 
Vain as a dreamer's words to them 
His wail above Jerusalem, 
And meaningless the watch He kept 
Through which His weak disciples slept. 

Yet shrink not thou whoe'er thou art, 
For God's great purpose set apart, 
Before whose far-discerning eyes, 
The Future as the Present lies! 
Beyond a narrow-bounded age 
Stretches the prophet-heritage, 
Through Heaven's dim spaces angel-trod, 
Through arches round the throne of God! 
Thy audience, worlds! — all Time to be 
The witness of the Truth in thee! 

Whittier. 



CHAPTER XV 

Some of Mrs. Farmer's Addresses 

Give me a voice, a cry, and a complaining, — 
Oh, let my sound be stormy in their ears! 

Throat that would shout, but can not stay for straining, 
Eyes that would weep, but can not wait for tears. 

F. W. H. Myers. 

But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my 
bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. — 
Jeremiah. 

For I am full of words, the spirit within me constraineth me. — 
Job. 

INCE this book is written in behalf of the 
cause of foreign missions, it has seemed 
appropriate to us to give several of Mrs. 
Farmer's missionary addresses. The best 
place, chronologically, is to follow the 
previous chapter which told of the con- 
ventions she attended, and where some of these addresses 
were delivered. 

She has left a large assortment of sermon notes, outlines 
of addrsses, etc., which, while some would be interesting, 
yet in a book of this size can not be given. Her manner 
and bearing upon the public platform was modest yet con- 
fident. She spoke fearlessly, earnestly, and at times, with 
great emotion. She was sincere to the core, and this al- 
ways makes a telling effect upon the audience. Just as was 
the case when two friends, one a sceptic, attended a meet- 
ing at which a very earnest preacher presided. The be- 
liever asked the other, "Do you believe what that man is 
saying?" The other man replied, "No, but I believe that 
he believes what he is saying." 

Mrs. Farmer fully believed her convictions regarding the 
cause of foreign missions and did not fail to enlist men and 




212 Ada Beeson Farmer 

money in the enterprise when she spoke. Above all, she 
was so steeped in prayer and relied so fully upon the Spirit 
of God to bless her messages, that aside from her own gifts 
and personality, God greatly owned and blessed her efforts 
as a public speaker. 

The Need of Laborers 

We are here this evening for a practical, vital, yea, all- 
important purpose, namely; to arouse the student-body of 
these two colleges to the appalling need of the heathen 
world; to show you young men and women how greatly 
God needs you in the foreign field to take Christ to the 
perishing millions who have never heard. As I have been 
thinking these days, and listening to Mr. Farmer speaking 
on China to-night, I thought of our many experiences and 
of the perishing millions all around us in China who have 
never heard and have no one to go and tell them. I feel 
like the poet who said: 

Oh, could I tell, ye surely would believe it! 
Oh, could I only say what I have seen! 

But the difficulty is really to be able to tell. We could 
easily and very comfortably transport every man, woman, 
and child in this audience to-night into China, India, or 
Africa, and within a short time, be unable to find you at all. 
You would be practically lost, the need is so great. In the 
world to-day there are over one billion heathen; one-half of 
the world has never heard of Jesus; one-half of the world 
knows nothing of what Jesus means to the life; one-half of 
the world has never seen one who loves Jesus; one-half of 
the world has never seen one who has the love of God 
prompting and ruling his or her life, and felt the warmth of 
such a life. This fact alone, not speaking of what you have 
heard these days, is enough to cause each Christian man 
and woman here to-night to consider where Jesus would 
have him go. Over against this more than one billion of 
heathen there are only four thousand, two hundred and 
eight ordained ministers, or one minister to every two hun- 
dred and sixty-three thousand, four hundred and twenty- 
three people; while in the United States with her eighty mil- 



Ada Beeson Farmer 213 

lion, there are one hundred and forty-six thousand, five 
hundred and two ordained ministers, or one minister to ev- 
ery five hundred and forty-six people. 

You may say "The church at home should be sanctified 
first," but I say, that individuals should be. Again you say, 
"We have many neglected fields at our own door before 
going to others," and many other excuses, and end up by 
saying, "We will get to the heathen by-and-by." You 
could afford to look at it that way if Jesus had not redeemed 
you, and then said, "Go ye into all the world and preach 
the gospel to every creature;" and if the heathen were not 
passing into Christless graves at the rate of forty million 
per year, one hundred thousand per day; and if each tick 
of the watch did not sound the death knell of a soul that 
never heard the name of Jesus; but since it is not true, we 
must obey and go quickly to those who are in darkness. 

We can not tell the need of laborers in all the fields, but 
will touch on some of the largest. 

Look at South America, which is synonomous with the 
word, neglect. Left without the Bible for centuries, yet 
not without outward pomp and religious ceremony as we 
find in all Roman Catholic countries, she is within full 
of awful sin and corruption. She has now thrown off her 
grave clothes, and seven of her republics have social and 
religious freedom. Though this be true, she still has only 
two hundred and forty-three missionaries to thirty-seven 
million, five hundred thousand people, or one minister 
to one hundred and fifty-four thousand, three hundred and 
twenty people. Five hundred and seven ordained mission- 
aries are needed to give one minister to every fifty thou- 
sand people. In South America, Central America and Mex- 
ico together, there are only three hundred and forty-five 
ordained missionaries, or one to one hundred and fifty- 
three thousand, eight hundred and forty-nine people. There 
are seven hundred and forty-seven ordained missionaries 
needed, with the necessary lay missionaries, single ladies, 
wives, etc., to really give them a witness. This is right here 
at your door, what are you going to do with this need? 



214 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Africa, which immediately brings forth the thought of 
slavery, has been held captive by the Mohammedans for 
centuries, made drunk by the intoxicants of the so-called 
Christian lands, and also made more murderous by their 
fire-arms. But what are these so-called Christian nations 
doing to send her Christ, the only cure for her awful need? 
There are fifty million souls within her borders wholly un- 
sought by a single missionary, and only one thousand, two 
hundred and fifty-seven ordained missionaries for all Africa, 
which means one to one hundred, thirty-three thousand and 
eight hundred and fifty-seven people. Two thousand, one 
hundred and eight are needed to give her Christ, the only 
one who has power to set the captives free. You have 
heard of the great need among our ten million brethren in 
black here in our own Southland; but among them even, 
there are more Christian workers than for the one hundred 
and sixty-eight million in Africa. Alexander Mackay said: 
"Here is a field for your energies, I entreat you to leave 
your work at home to the many who are ready to take it 
and come forth yourselves to reap this field." Bishop Han- 
nington in his dying testimony said: "I have purchased 
the road to them with my life." Beloved, who will follow 
these to help fill up the ranks? 

India with a population which more than doubles that 
of North and South America, represents one-fifth of the 
world's population crowded into one-thirtieth of its area. 
Think of her with her awful caste system; one hundred and 
forty million widows; forty thousand lifelong prisoners in 
Zenanas; and more than one hundred thousand unevangel- 
ized beyond the reach of the present workers who are call- 
ing for you. The famine which enabled the missionaries to 
get the widows and orphans into the orphanages and the 
out-pouring of the Spirit in India have greatly increased the 
need of laborers. It is said there are more Christian work- 
ers in New York City alone than missionaries in India, with 
four times the population of the United States. Think of it! 
Such a contrast! A missionary conference at Madras a few 
years ago, issued an appeal calling upon the Christian 
churches of Christendom to send out enough men to give 



Ada Beeson Farmer 215 

one ordained man, single or married, and one single lady 
to every fifty thousand people; and they found they would 
have to have four thousand, six hundred and twenty-eight 
men and four thousand, four hundred women, making an 
immediate total force of nine thousand and twenty-eight mis- 
sionaries needed to carry on this great struggle to a triumph- 
ant issue. The united voice of the Calcutta conference was: 
"From all parts of the Indian Empire the cry is heard that 
there are abundant openings for labor, but no laborers to 
take it up. In the Great Master's Name, with all the em- 
phasis in our power, we urge the necessity of every effort 
being made to send forth a largely increased force of labor- 
ers in this field which is already white unto harvest." How 
can you young men and women just on the threshold of your 
life's work shut your eyes and ears to this great need and 
the earnest call of the tired and worn ones at the front of 
the battle, who know what it is to see the precious souls 
for whom Jesus died passing away, never having seen the 
light? 

China, no longer characterized by the word sleep; but 
now by the word awake, is the largest field from the stand- 
point of souls. Within her eighteen provinces are found 
four hundred millions of people, or one-third of the whole 
human race, and she is by far the most needy of all lands. 
You may be prone to think I say this because I spent a term 
of service there and feel the need of China as no other field. 
I grant that may be true, but it is a fact, known to all mission 
students, that China has less missionaries in proportion to 
her population than any other country. I have often won- 
dered why so few from these colleges were looking toward 
China. I have given you the great need of laborers in 
Africa, but I want to say that China has nearly four times 
the population that Africa has, with less than one-half as 
many ordained missionaries to break the bread of life to her 
perishing millions. With a love burning for those precious 
souls, I have tried to give the real and awful need of India; 
but China with about twice the population, has one hundred 
and nine less than one-half as many ordained missionaries 
as India. China has only six hundred and ten ordained mis- 



216 Ada Beeson Farmer 

sionaries to her four hundred million people, or one to every 
seven hundred and sixteen thousand, three hundred and 
ninety-three precious souls, while here in the United States, 
there are one hundred and forty-six thousand, five hundred 
and two, for eighty million, or one for every five hundred 
and forty-six people. There are only three thousand, 
seven hundred and forty-six foreign missionaries, includ- 
ing lay missionaries, single ladies, medical missionaries, 
and teachers, or one foreign worker to every one hundred 
and six thousand, six hundred and eighty people. Beloved, 
do you think we could give the gospel as a witness to that 
number even if all could be sent out in evangelistic work? 
But of course there is hospital work, school work, and the 
care of the church, which often necessitates many grouped 
in one place; and that of course leaves a large section con- 
taining hundreds of cities, countless villages, markets and 
country places where no one has ever gone and no light 
has ever shown on their pathway. 

These millions of precious souls that Jesus loves as much 
as he loves you and me and for whom He spilled His prec- 
ious blood to redeem, have never as much as heard that 
there is a Savior! You are debtor to these, and they will die 
and be lost forever if you do not pay your debt. Beloved, do 
not forget that one-half of the world has never heard of 
Jesus, and one-half of that number is in China; or in other 
words, one-fourth of all the people in the world that have 
never heard of Jesus are in China. Can you realize that 
these are souls? Consequently, seven thousand, one hun- 
dred and ten ordained missionaries are needed in China 
to give one to every fifty thousand people, and that means 
three times seven hundred and eighty-six greater than 
Africa's need, and nearly twice as many as are needed in 
India. After these facts you can see, and I trust you will 
realize, that China is the most needy of all lands. 

Kuangsi, where we labor, with her eight million people, 
has only fifty-two missionaries, or one to more than one 
hundred and fifty-three thousand people. You may see 
her need, and then think she is not ready, but Mr. Farmer 
has told you of the great awakening and reaching out for 



Ada Beeson Farmer 217 

Western learning, industry, arts, and customs. The China 
of to-day is no more the China of seven years ago than day 
is night; the changes are so great. She is like a bud in spring 
opening up to the influences of light, warmth, and moisture, 
therefore, at this time of receptivity, if we do not give her 
that light — Jesus — who brings with Him the warmth of 
his love, she will spiritually wither and die. Such unfolding 
of life to outward influences, a reaching out for something 
that will satisfy the hungry, longing heart, and the beginning 
to realize that idolatry and Confucianism can not satisfy 
the human heart, increases her need many fold. Not the 
need of the individual heart of its only Savior, nor even the 
hearts of all that make up the nation; but it increases the 
need of laborers to take them our Christ while they are 
turning from their foot-binding, opium-smoking, idol-wor- 
ship, ancestral-worship, and many things to which they have 
clung for centuries. Some may be prone to consider other 
fields rather than China, because everything moves more 
slowly there, even Christianity. There are reasons for that. 
They have been the most conservative of all people and 
accept the new things slowly, and while they may come in 
faster in Japan, Korea and India, so far, our Chinese 
Christians will compare favorably with any other people in 
strength of character and loyalty to God. 

This was proven in an awful but wonderful way during 
the Boxer trouble of 1900, when thirty thousand Chinese 
Christians laid down their lives for Christ rather than deny 
Him. I wonder how this audience could stand such a test? 
China's need is Christ. He will solve all her problems, for 
within the last century the missionaries and Chinese Chris- 
tians have done much through prayer and labor. The 
opium and foot-binding have had a death-blow and in time 
will be done away. Girls' schools are being established in 
every province; and the abolition of the plurality of wives 
and slavery is being agitated. But to bring Christ to this 
needy people it will take seven thousand, one hundred and 
ten missionaries, and one-half of that number of lay mis- 
sionaries to evangelize the men, with at least as many single 
ladies, if not more, and nearly as many wives, to bring the 



218 Ada Beeson Farmer 

only Savior to our benighted, ignorant, superstitious, idola- 
trous, and lost sisters of China. 

Oh, if I could only take you with me into one of our 
great heathen cities, say P'ingloh, with her thirty thousand 
people, a city as large as Meridian, or Liucheo, with her 
eighty thousand people, nearly three times the size of Meri- 
dian, and let you see what I saw, feel what I felt, and real- 
ize what I realized when I knew that not one in that great 
city was saved — all lost — not one who knew enough of the 
gospel to worship the true and living God, with very few 
ever having heard His name. And further, that we two 
with our Chinese helpers, were responsible before God to 
give them Christ by life and by teaching; and that I, with 
my Bible-woman, who had never before worked in that ca- 
pacity, were the only ones to lead into the way of eternal 
life, those thousands of women and children. And then 
look around me, only to realize that there were four or five 
cities governed by that one city, with their several tens of 
thousands of souls looking to us, the only source of light; 
and then on and on beyond were five other prefectural 
cities with their respective districts containing four or five 
cities each, and no one to tell them that Jesus loved them and 
could save their souls from sin and hell. China is calling 
for fourteen hundred men now, and as many women. And 
our own work in Kuangsi is just now needing seven men and 
as many women to push on to the untouched regions. Two 
days ago we had news of one of our most promising lady- 
missionaries being called home above, and later that of one 
of our male missionaries, and they were from our most 
needed Mandarin district. Who will go to fill up the ranks? 

Young men, young women, do you see and realize the ap- 
palling need of laborers in the world and especially in 
China? Carey said, "Not where I am needed, but where 
I am needed most." All you have heard increases your 
responsibility to them from the standpoint of their dire 
need. Your responsibility of God's need of you there, 
and from the standpoint of your obligation to Him who 
loved you enough to give his only begotten Son; to Jesus 
who gave his own life to redeem you and the Holy Ghost 



Ada Beeson Farmer 219 

who condescends to live in your life to enable you to 
represent Christ to them; and Christ's command, 
"Go ye," what are you going to do with this? In 
one leading missionary college in New England in the past 
five years law took one-third, business one-third, and medi- 
cine, teaching, and the ministry the other third, and less than 
one per cent, of the students were preparing for the for- 
eign field. Will that be said of these colleges here in Merid- 
ian? There are in the United States already, twice as many 
lawyers as are needed to conduct the legal business of the 
country. You know Finney when saved gave up law and 
went to saving souls; and there are physicians till there is 
virtually one within call of every house; business men, plenty 
and to spare; yea, many of them are trying to ease their 
consciences against the call to the mission field by making 
money to support some one else; and teachers of all grades 
in the United States outnumber all those who have been sent 
to the thousand millions of the non-christian world nearly 
fifty times : and ministers at home, one to every five hundred 
and forty-six people, with from one to about twenty helpers, 
besides their home missionaries, slum workers, rescue work- 
ers, etc. 

Beloved students, when you consider where you should 
go, remember to every four thousand Christians, three 
thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine are remaining in this 
country; that of every one thousand Christian young people, 
who are for the greater part free to go, nine hundred and 
ninety-nine are staying at home; even of those who have 
been specially fitted by college training more than ninety-nine 
out of every hundred are staying at home; and though we 
have Christian laymen graduating from our colleges to meet 
the needy home field, sixty-four of every sixty-five of our 
ordained ministers are remaining in America under the noon- 
day blaze of the gospel sun! Are you young men and 
women of these two colleges going to listlessly fall into the 
same line and leave these millions to be lost and cry out 
against you in the last day? Was it not the Macedonian 
call and the great need of the heathen that spurred Paul on 
to the "regions beyond?" and was it not the love of Christ 



220 Ada Beeson Farmer 

and the untouched regions that caused him to say: "Yea, so 
have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was 
named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation?" 
Did not our Lord say: "Other sheep have I that are 
not of this fold," and did He not tell us to leave the ninety 
and nine and go and find the lost one? To-night I am 
pleading with you to leave the one and seek the ninety and 
nine lost ones. Oh, that the Holy Spirit might separate at 
least one hundred out of these two colleges from the one 
who has so many to look after him and send them to the 
ninety and nine who have no one to save them ! 

Oh, beloved, close as it were your natural eyes, and open 
your heart's eye and see Jesus standing in our midst with 
outstretched hands to a tired, sin-bound, lost world, with 
His face lighted with unutterable love for those for whom 
He died, showing forth a great longing compassion of His 
heart for them; and then ask Him to give you that same 
love in your heart to enable you to leave all and follow 
Him to those perishing ones who have never heard. He 
said: "As the Father hath sent me even so send I you." 
Will you go? Ask Him where he wants you to labor and 
obey. 

The statistics in the foregoing address are not up to date, but they are a pretty- 
fair approximation of conditions a few years ago. They are taken largely from the 
Student Volunteer Movement literature and reports from different sources on 
mission work. Because of the tardy response of the church to meet the awful need 
of the heathen world, we doubt not that the facts and figures in the address are 
still approximately true. God speed the day when they shall be reduced to smaller 
numbers through the spread of the gospel in the dark places of the earth. 

THE AUTHOR. 

The Aim of Mission Work and Some Methods Used 
in China to Accomplish it 

"He that winneth souls is wise." "All things to all men 
that I may save some." 

I. The aim, of all mission work is soul-winning, lead- 
ing men soul by soul to Christ; not to be content with mere 
"seed-sowing," "giving them a witness," or "preparing the 
way for others to reap," as many so glibly and contentedly 
say. A man under a British society once said he had 



Ada Beeson Farmer 221 

preached the gospel in a certain city for ten years, but he 
never, as far as he knew, had been the means of any one 
person being saved. And when some one showed surprise at 
his freedom from concern, he said that it was his business 
to preach the word — he really had nothing to do with the 
results. Quite different was the feeling of J. Hudson Tay- 
lor, when at one of their conferences he urged all his mis- 
sionaries to aim at the conversion of men at once, even 
though it might be the first and only opportunity. He gave 
instances where the Spirit thus directly owned the message 
and made it effectual. 

We have had in our work in South China, instances where 
God so honored the word that people believed it the very 
first time they heard. I recall one old man, a farmer living 
near Wucheo, who had gone into the city to sell his vege- 
tables one day and chanced to pass by the street chapel 
where the gospel was being preached. He went in and sat 
down to hear what the preacher had to say, and soon be- 
came extremely interested in the story of the cross, for he 
was seen leaning over to catch every word that was being 
said. After the close of the meeting he arose to go out and 
put his hand on his breast and said: "This is just what I 
have been wanting for these many years. It satisfies my 
heart's longing," and went to tell his brother that he was 
going to be a "Jesus-man." He lived a faithful and con- 
sistent life for many years and then went to be with Christ. 

I think we can safely say this is a Scriptural aim, for 
Jesus himself said: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye 
bear much fruit, so shall ye by my disciples." And in the 
Apostolic church they were expected thus to respond to the 
Truth, and they did so through the preaching of Peter, John, 
Stephen, and Paul. 

One of our South China missionaries said to me before 
leaving for the field, that one usually found what he or she 
was looking for — if it was for a hard time, robbers, tigers, 
or whatever it was, that he would find it : but if he was going 
with the express purpose of finding precious souls and bring- 
ing them to Christ, that would be the result. Often I have 
thought of that saying of his when souls seemed slow in 



222 Ada Beeson Farmer 

coming to Jesus, but I have also noted that he never came 
to a single conference without having souls to report. 

A secretary of a mission board once said of his mission- 
aries that their least concern was the question of numbers 
received into the church. His meaning perhaps was good, 
but we often find that this idea is rather an excuse for a 
conscience and heart that have ceased to have that travail 
for souls of which Paul speaks. On the other hand, there 
are often those who are so eager to organize new churches, 
increase the church membership and make a good report 
to the home board that they fail to note the difference be- 
tween a person being converted from his heathen religions 
to Christianity and one being converted to Christ as a per- 
sonal Savior; that is, really born again. In other words, 
get their churches filled with men convinced that Christianity 
is the true religion, but who are not yet born into Christ's 
kingdom. We want our aim to be nothing short of getting 
men and women really born of the Spirit, and then leading 
them on to all the fullness of God. We want our converts 
to be able to say, as a Chinese student did in a street meeting 
not long ago, "God in heaven — He made everything. He 
made sun, moon, stars and sky. . . . He made all animals, 
all kinds of plants, He made man. Many things God made, 
not change — stars — just same, trees just same to-day, 
to-morrow, the next day. God made man — man can change 
— man not same to-day, yesterday, to-morrow. Last year 
I was a bad man, do bad things, love bad places — this year, 
I not same man. God gave me new heart, He makes me 
love good things, good people — I want to be all good, not 
bad at all." 

We also want Christ to so sanctify and possess the lives 
of all until it can be said of them as was said of one of our 
South China Christians who was employed as a cook on a 
steamer plying from Wucheo to Hongkong. The class of 
men employed on these boats are such that he found a 
strong anti-Christian atmosphere in which to let his light 
shine. He said: "These people just vie with one another to 
see who can invent the best plan to provoke me to anger. 
They want to see a Christian lose his temper, and so have 



Ada Beeson Farmer 223 

this to say against the 'Jesus doctrine.' Only a few days 
ago I overheard several of them talking together, (they 
did not know I was listening to their conversation), and 
saying: 'It is truly strange that we can not make this "Jesus- 
man" angry.' Well, it is not I, but Christ and His grace 
that keeps me for His glory." 

Beloved, it is true the aim of the missionary is not civiliza- 
tion, Westernization, learning, reform, not even the allevia- 
tion of pain and the breaking off of awful habits, such as 
the opium habit and foot-binding, but it is winning men and 
women to Christ, saving their souls, leading them from 
the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God; yea, bringing 
men back into harmony with God, so they may glorify Him 
here and enjoy Him throughout eternity. 

II. We will now look at some means used by which we 
can win souls in China, and I will take them rather in a 
chronological order, as that may make it clearer. 

( 1 ) Itineration naturally comes first, because it is not 
practical to move into a city and attempt to settle down the 
first time you go, but it is best to make one or more itinera- 
tions, sell gospels and tracts, and thus pave the way for the 
gospel message and your permanent settlement there. It is 
also a great help to the missionary in spying out the land, 
finding the most favorable location; and for sowing seed 
that will fall into some heart and be ready for further in- 
struction when you get there, as was the case on one of our 
stations. Brother Hinkey had made several itinerations in 
the Ulincheo district and there sold a New Testament to 
an old man by the name of T'an. When he went to this 
city to open a chapel he not only found this old Mr. T'an 
friendly, but willing to help dispel suspicion from the minds 
of others. One day Mr. Hinkey was preaching and in his 
message spoke of the second coming of our Lord, and this 
old man spoke up and said: "I know about that, for I read 
it in that book that I bought from you." After the service 
he brought it to the missionary, who found it marked in 
many places where the old man had marked it and was 
waiting for some one to come along and explain it to him. 



224 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Besides, there may be some who will never live for the 
missionary to locate in their city, village, or market place, 
because we haven't enough men to meet the awful need 
and there are those who do believe and are saved through 
the reading of the Word left by the itinerant. Some people 
here at home and on the foreign field, too, get so occupied 
with what has been done and what is being done, that they 
forget that there are yet millions without the gospel! When 
what has been done and what is being done is only to inspire 
us to go'forward and reach the unreached. This must be 
done by itineration, and for China alone it would take many 
workers, strong in body and nerve, with great power of 
adaptation and willingness to suffer hardship to do it. In 
the last month's "Missionary Review of the World" was 
a call for workers for Annam. There is only one inde- 
pendent French mission and the British and Foreign Bible 
Society working there and the chief missionary and his wife 
died of cholera within a few hours of each other. Surely 
these twenty-two million need men to go into this land to 
itinerate and open new stations. Perhaps God has some 
one here to go. Our mission has one young man at Long- 
cheo and one on his way to China, both expecting to go into 
Annam, but what are these among so many? 

(2.)The opening of new stations should follow next in 
order and is of great importance. The people who have 
bought and read the Bible scattered by the itinerant mission- 
ary, often do not fully grasp the meaning of salvation from 
one or two sermons or talks given by the itinerant as he 
makes a post-haste trip through the country, preaching and 
selling the gospel, so the chapels must be opened in the cities 
and other centers of life in order to teach these people and 
lead them to the Lord Jesus, as in the case of the old gentle- 
man mentioned above. Opening new stations is not an easy 
task as the Chinese often take us to be government spies, 
etc., and fear that we are coming to harm rather than help. 
Some fear that we will spoil the good luck of the place, 
while there are others who are quite willing to get all that 
they can from the West, but do not want her men to settle 



Ada Beeson Farmer 225 

among them. You can readily see it means one thing to 
pass through a city as a guest and quite another to settle 
down and live. It takes great tact and wisdom, patience 
and prayer, on the part of the missionary to get into one of 
these cities and plant the gospel there. For this work many 
more young men, women, and means are needed, especially 
young men. There are more than a thousand walled cities 
where any two of you may enter to conquer it for Jesus. 
Who would like to do it for Him? 

(3.) Street chapel and reception-room work go hand in 
hand in winning men to Christ. These chapels have been 
opened, the wife may or may not have come, but the daily 
street chapel, which has been located on the most busy 
thoroughfare, is crowded with men of the city and those 
coming in from the near-by cities, villages and market places, 
who stop to hear what the foreigner and Chinese preacher 
have to say. It may be the first time they have heard, or 
perchance, they have heard in some other city, or in that 
very chapel before. They listen awhile and then they are 
allowed to ask questions and the missionary and preacher 
will answer the inquiries, thus finding out what they know 
and what they want to know. Those who want to learn 
more of the gospel are invited to the reception-room, say 
that evening, and there is where we come in personal con- 
tact with them and their real needs. This is much like our 
city mission work in our large cities in this country. Some 
one has said that itineration and street chapel preaching was 
more to advertise the gospel, and the reception-room and 
inquiry class to gather in the souls; but all and each may 
be soul-saving and for this we are striving. After the gos- 
pel has been planted in a place for some time, then some 
methods more modern can be used. 

(4.) Pastoral work is the next in order, for it is not 
only necessary to bring the lambs and sheep into the fold but 
they must be fed, nourished, strengthened, and led on into 
other pastures, and this is the work of the pastor. We feel 
that some missionaries think this work of such great im- 
portance that they gather a little flock around them, settle 



226 Ada Beeson Farmer 

down and look after them and forget the ones that are 
yet in darkness so near them; and as a natural consequence 
they are a veritable pond, when God wanted them to be a 
beautiful lake with many outlets, yea, rivers of living water, 
going and refreshing the thirsty ones yet in darkness. On 
the other hand, we find those who feel it is enough to get 
them saved and go on to others, neglecting to obey Christ's 
command to Peter, to feed His lambs and His sheep. Of 
course the result of this kind of method would be a falling 
away, going into sin, and back to the world. The remedy 
is plenty of workers for all spheres and each with a con- 
suming passion for souls. Women are not actually pastors, 
but often they are compelled to do such work. They have 
to teach the women that come into the church and look 
after them as part of the flock. While at other times, 
ladies are left in full charge of the station and all the work 
of a pastor, except baptizing, receiving members into the 
church, and administering the Lord's supper, which are all 
left for the regular ordained man to do. 

Another duty of the pastor is what is known as pastoral 
itineration; that is, to visit all out-stations in his district 
and all the unoccupied cities where there may be found an 
inquirer or Christian. This, too, is not confined to the 
men, but the lady missionaries have to do this work if our 
sisters in these outlying districts are ever reached. She 
will take her Bible-woman and a native evangelist, or go 
with her husband, if she be married. To carry on this work 
a home for the missionaries and what is known as a Sunday- 
chapel in the residential portion of the city have to be pro- 
vided. This chapel has to have either a back entrance, or 
a separate entrance, where the women may come in unseen 
by the men; then they sit on one side of the house and the 
men on the other with a partition between and worship to- 
gether on the Sabbath, partake of the Lord's Supper, etc. 
This chapel is also used for the women's and children's 
work during the week. You see how important such a 
building is to carry on this phase of the work. Beloved, 



Ada Beeson Farmer 227 

you have never tried to teach the women without a suitable 
place like I have. Pray God to send them in. 

(5.) Next comes woman's city work. I have spoken of 
the visitation and itineration that she has to do, but there 
is what is known as "city work" — house to house visitation 
with the Bible-woman in the city in which she is located — 
and looking after other Bible-women in her district. She 
also has regular women's and children's meetings, teaching 
the women characters, drilling them in the catechism and 
conducting Bible classes both in the city and the surround- 
ing villages. This is also similar to our city mission work 
in America, only in China, the women will never hear the 
gospel unless we take it to them. I know God has some 
here to help us in this work. 

(6.) Medical and hospital work. This has played a 
great part in the world's evangelization. God has honored 
it in many places, and often through this agency the mis- 
sionary has been able to get a foothold into a once hostile 
district. The official class has often been reached through 
this means when other things have seemed to fail. Of 
course this is dealing directly with the body, and also too 
often has stopped there ; but the underlying aim or purpose 
should be to reach men's souls. We find, as it was in the 
Apostolic church, that it is just as easy for the Chinese to 
trust God for their bodies as for their souls because they 
have once trusted the idols for all this, and when they turn 
to the true God they trust him for everything, besides they 
take the Bible as a whole and not in part. Many have 
found Christ through the healing of their own bodies, or 
the healing of some one else; and I have known of a few 
cases where through the Chinese trusting God for healing 
the missionaries have been brought to believe in Divine heal- 
ing, and to trust God in like manner. 

One of our stations had an old lady about fifty years of 
age who had been blind, or practically so, for years. She 
heard one of our missionaries speak of God's power and 
willingness to heal. She went home resolved in her mind 
to trust God to heal her. A few days later she returned 



228 Ada Beeson Farmer 

to the chapel, the missionary prayed with her and gave her 
the word of God upon which to stand. Soon she was healed 
completely, and is now doing the finest needle work, saved, 
and praising God for healing both body and soul. 

(7.) Next and last, school work. This is composed of 
three kinds, day-schools, regular literary schools and col- 
leges, and Bible-training schools for native workers. Be- 
cause of Chinese custom these schools have to be for both 
sexes. Therefore, we have to have both male and female 
foreign missionaries as teachers as well as male and female 
native teachers. 

(a.) Day schools are not boarding schools, but more like 
our public schools and are taught by native men and women 
superintended by the missionary. The day school may be 
composed of the children of the Christians and all others 
who are willing to send to a Christian school. You can 
readily see that this is the outcome of Christian work where 
a chapel is already opened and usually a church organized. 
At other times, Christian teachers, either men or women, 
are sent from the literary training schools back to their 
own city, village, or some other place where the people are 
willing for such a school to be opened. The missionary 
will go once or twice a year to examine the students and 
at such times the parents often gather to see what their 
children have learned, not only in their own Chinese books, 
but they also hear what they have learned in the Bible, 
for it is always taught, too. In this way they become inter- 
ested in the gospel and often invite the missionary to open 
a chapel and send a preacher to the old people, thus proving 
to be a great evangelistic agency. 

(b.) Regular literary boarding schools and colleges are 
similar to our church schools and conference colleges. These 
have been a great factor in mission work. Many of the 
present-day Provincial schools are drawing from these mis- 
sion colleges for their teachers, and where they are really 
saved men and women, they have a great opportunity for 
God. The missionaries and native teachers of these liter- 
ary schools need to have as their supreme aim the salva- 



Ada Beeson Farmer 229 

tion of precious souls. Culture and learning is no more 
salvation in China than in America. 

(c.) Bible-training schools, which to me are the most 
important of all mentioned. They take the place in mission 
work that our church, Bible and mission-training schools, 
such as the Moody Institute, Missionary Institute at Nyack, 
and other such schools take in God's work at home. In 
our training-school — which consists of children, young peo- 
ple and grown-up people, both saved and unsaved — the 
first aim is to get everyone saved, and then train all for 
more useful service in every sphere of life; but more es- 
pecially to train teachers for day schools, colporters, evan- 
gelists, preachers, and Bible-women. We also aim at the 
sanctification and baptism with the Holy Ghost of each 
Christian, and the separating by the Holy Ghost 
of those whom He wants for His work, in whatever 
sphere He wills. In these schools they get enough literary 
work to fit them for God's work, The older ones perhaps 
for Bible-women and preachers, while the younger ones can 
learn more, and thus prepare themselves for day-school 
teachers, other training-school teachers, and perhaps, some 
may be able to teach in government schools. You can read- 
ily see how these are recruiting stations for God's army in 
China, making them far-reaching evangelistic agencies. The 
older students are compelled to take part in some Christian 
work before they are allowed to graduate, such as leading 
morning prayers, prayer-meetings; the men, preaching, itin- 
erating, etc., the women leading women's and children's 
meetings, going with the missionary in her rounds of house- 
to-house visitation, or in itineration work. Most of them 
spend their summer vacations in Christian work. This gives 
them an opportunity to practice what they have learned, 
to learn different methods in soul-winning, and helps to in- 
still within them a love for perishing souls. For these 
schools, buildings, etc., furnishings and equipment are nec- 
essary. The candle is important, but the candle-stick is 
necessary or the candle will topple over. It is this last 
kind of a school that these two colleges here at Meridian 



230 Ada Beeson Farmer 

have pledged to support and maintain. Beloved students, 
we propose that every cent, whether for buildings — which, 
at present, is of the greatest importance — furnishing, equip- 
ment, or support of teacher and students, is to be used for 
the purpose of saving precious souls in China. And as 
Doctor Harrison said the other evening, if God does not 
let you go, or holds you here for further preparation, you 
can either have a representative over there, or by your gifts 
make it possible for hundreds of Chinese men and boys, 
women and girls, to be brought to Christ and prepared for 
His work. I trust that you will take this upon your hearts 
as your work, and in daily earnest prayer for needed money 
for buildings, etc., (doing what He wants you to do) for 
wisdom to be given those who have the oversight of them, 
for suitable Chinese teachers, for the salvation of every 
person who comes to those schools, for the sanctification 
and filling of the Holy Spirit, the calling out of those whom 
He wants to take the gospel to their own people and to 
make soul-winners of every one of them, and plead with 
God till it is accomplished. 

We have been looking at some of the methods used in 
China to bring men to Christ, and you see that you have 
a great part in it here and now. Perhaps God is preparing 
some young man and some young woman for these special 
schools; if not, I know He is for other work in China, yea, 
for South China and Annam. Be true to God in supporting 
and upholding this work when we leave, and follow Him 
wherever He may lead, and let us all be soul-winners for 
Jesus. 

I have spent more than a year speaking and preaching 
about these Chinese, but I long to get back, talk and preach 
to those precious souls of Jesus' love. 



Dear Students : — 

I will follow Jesus, anywhere, everywhere, 
I will follow on. 

I wonder how many of you can sing this truth from the 
bottom of your hearts? Please, each one of you, ask your- 



Ada Beeson Farmer 231 

selves this question, "Can I?" Yes, you can; but will you? 
I remember some nine, yea, ten years ago, I sang this truth, 
and what joy came to my heart, and yet what a sense of 
responsibility to God! Then, little did I know what it 
meant. Doubtless I still do not know the full meaning 
for me; but I am still singing it and trusting our great God 
to enable me to do it. Are you? 

I did not know it meant the foreign field, afflictions, and 
many other things ; but through it all He has revealed Him- 
self to me as my all sufficiency in all things and at all times. 
Phil, iv.19, nas Deen proved in supplying my needs to pre- 
pare for the field, in getting here, and ever since I have been 
in the dark land of China, where so many people claim you 
can not trust God as in the home land where you have 
friends. He has also been my life for these nearly five 
years. Dear, hesitating ones, do not fear, but only trust. 

If some of you who have never said, "I will follow Jesus, 
anywhere, everywhere," will say it, God will show you some 
dark corner of this earth where there are precious souls 
for whom Jesus died, and who have never heard nor have 
any one to tell them of Him. It may be China, it may be 
Kuangsi province, where there are countless numbers who 
have never heard the Name that is so sweet to a believer's 
ear — Jesus. How I praise God I ever said I would follow 
and then did it! Now I recommend it to you. 

When I read the list of volunteers of the two colleges 
and saw so few names marked China, my heart was grieved 
and I wondered why poor, needy China had not appealed 
to you more than it did. Surely she is, "Sad, sad, China, 
awaiting her doom!" If you could only see and realize 
some of the awful darkness and satanic power in this land, 
and how long they have lived for the devil and grieved God. 
How the heart of God must ache to see their awful condi- 
tion! Last spring, when we had rain for nearly three 
months and the crops were destroyed, the idol processions 
went through the streets for days, imploring their gods for 
the rain to cease. At last the officials walked bare-footed 
to the temple to pray that it might cease. After the rain 



232 Ada Beeson Farmer 

ceased there was a drought, and the official this time went 
to the temple, had the rain god moved out on the uncovered 
porch of the temple, and, chained to that idol, sat there 
with his head uncovered, to implore rain. Rain soon came 
and the idol had another victory! Some one has said that 
the officials have barometers, and knowing the state of the 
weather, pray accordingly. Doubtless there is truth in the 
statement, for they will do anything to get and hold their 
position. The devil has many plans to keep these poor 
people bound. 

Oh, how they need Jesus to free them ! Will you not 
come over and hold Him up to these dying people? I often 
wonder how Jesus must feel when He looks down upon this 
world, sees the church with the light for centuries, and 
sees the heathen dying by the thousands daily, and no one 
to tell them, no one willing to follow Him. How can you 
sit at home in ease and not follow Him here to save the 
lost? God help you to see where He is calling you and give 
grace to follow. 

If God is calling you to go to some foreign field do not 
let anything keep you away. The enemy will have many 
plans to keep you there, but like Daniel, be a man, woman, 
of purpose. Yea, be like Paul, endeavor to preach where 
the Word is not known. "Not building on another man's 
foundation." Many things will be held up before you; 
position, ease, loved ones, marriage, lack of means, lack 
of health, etc., etc. Satan has succeeded in getting thou- 
sands either tied or frightened so they remain at home. I 
know one man who was made to believe that he could not 
stand the climate, and after his outfit, support and passage 
money were ready he backed out and remained at home. 
I wonder what God can do with a man or woman like that ! 
Do not do as he has done but; come, follow on. 

Now, a word to those who expect to come. Do not get 
into your mind that mission work is only preaching; but be 
practical, and learn to do a little of everything. You may 
be called upon to build a house, keep house, cook, wash, 
or teach some one to do it; iron, scrub, etc. And you ladies 



Ada Beeson Farmer 233 

may have to do all this (except build the house), with 
many other things, as sewing, book-keeping for your sta- 
tion, looking after the church, caring for the sick, etc. I had 
a letter from one of our brethren a few days ago in which 
he told me he had to do the cooking that week as his cook 
was ill ; also heard from another that the bread was awful 
and the cook did not know how to remedy it, neither did he. 
Make up your mind that by God's help you will do anything 
He brings your way for you to do. Do not think that you 
will have this or that, or this or that person to work with 
you. When your heart is breaking to go out into the work 
where you can tell these dying people of the Savior, you 
may be asked to take charge of the home, build a house, or 
look after the sick, so as to free some one else for active 
preaching; but it is sweet to do this if it is for Him and 
in Him. So come with the purpose to "follow anywhere, 
everywhere," and "follow on." I do so thank God for 
these years in China, and what He has been to me ! I can 
say with Paul, "Thanks be unto God, who always causeth 
us to triumph in Christ Jesus." 

Prayer and Missions. 

"Prayer and missions are as inseparable as faith and 
works; in fact prayer and missions are faith and work." We 
find in Old Testament times God had His few intercessors 
through whom He could and did work. Jesus Christ, by 
precept, by command, and by example, has shown with 
great force that He believed that the greatest need for the 
evangelization of the world is prayer. Before "give" and 
"go" comes prayer; really, it is through prayer that "give" 
and "go" are brought about. The speedy evangelization 
of the world and the early return of our King will be in 
proportion to the amount of real intercessory prayer for 
missions. 

Eph. vi.10-20, clearly reveals that we missionaries do 
not simply overcome the superstition, prejudices and 
hatred, of men; but we wrestle against "principalities, 
powers, world-rulers of this darkness, and spiritual hosts 
of wickedness in the heavenlies." Mission work is a war 



234 Ada Beeson Farmer 

between Satan and Christ, and this war is waged for the 
possession of living men's souls and must be done through 
living men. It is true that we must go in person, as Christ 
came in person, and meet the Chinaman, Hindoo, or Afri- 
can face to face, and give him the word; but we can only 
meet the Prince of — China, India, Africa — and the Prince 
of this world by the way of the place above, where Christ 
is ever living and making intercession for us. It must be 
by prayer. 

I. Let us note some instances recorded in God's word 
concerning prayer. 

(a.) Moses on the mount with Aaron and Hur holding 
up his hands in supplication to God. You remember that 
when they were faithful, Amalek was overcome, but when 
they failed to hold up his hands Amalek prevailed. The 
same fight is on to-day; who will prevail? 

(b.) In Isa. lix. 16, we find where Jehovah had looked 
upon the awful sin of Israel, and Isaiah has recorded of 
Him: "He saw . . and wondered that there was no inter- 
cessor;" so He looks down upon the greater half of the 
world to-day in utter darkness, lost and undone, and still 
wonders that there are so few intercessors. 

(c) Psa. cvi. 23, shows what God says concerning Moses 
who stood for Israel. "He would destroy them had not 
Moses, his chosen, stood before him in the breach, to turn 
away his wrath." This is God's plan to-day. Oh, for 
men and women to stand in the breach ! 

(d.) Moses on one occasion said, "Blot me, I pray thee, 
out of thy book," rather than have God destroy Israel. 
Does your love and compassion for the heathen cause you 
to pray with such intensity that you are willing to lay 
down your life for them? 

(c.) Christ, before selecting the twelve Apostles, spent 
the whole night in prayer, and the church at Antioch prayed 
and the Holy Ghost separated the missionaries unto their 
work, with the result that Paul and Barnabas were sent 
forth. The church to-day needs to do that and not depend 
upon us returned missionaries to give messages and stir 



Ada Beeson Farmer 235 

up people to go. We do not want men-called missionaries, 
but Holy Ghost-separated men and women for the work 
of the evangelization of the world. 

(/.) God's will for the church is again clearly shown by 
Christ's command, "Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the 
harvest, that he thrust forth laborers into his harvest." 
What a mystery! He the Lord of the harvest, and could 
have sent them without man's aid, but He said, "pray" 
as if all depended upon prayer. Without God, we can do 
nothing; and on the other hand, it is as true, (I say it 
humbly), without us, He can do nothing. 

(g.) Paul's requests for prayer, recorded throughout his 
epistles, show the great need of prayer from the stand- 
point of a missionary. On one occasion he said: "Pray 
that I may have boldness to speak as I ought to speak," 
and many other similar requests. The same requests for 
prayer are coming from all mission fields and from all 
missionaries. 

II. We will next notice some missionary achievements 
wrought through prayer. 

(a.) A little over a hundred years ago, the heathen 
world was closed to the gospel; to-day every field is prac- 
tically open, and many calling for help. This is beyond 
doubt the result of prayer. Some have said that China 
was opened at the point of the bayonet; but one has only 
to study the history of missions in that great empire to see 
that prayer was at the bottom of all that God has wrought 
in that land. India's zennanas have been prayed open by 
the devout women and others whose hearts were wrung 
with compassion for their degraded and oppressed sisters. 
Africa, once closed and unknown, is now open and standing 
with outstretched hands for help to free her from her 
slavery, superstition and sin. One has only to read how 
men have prayed and remember that Livingstone passed 
to his reward on his knees to know how that dark con- 
tinent was opened to the gospel ! Some twenty-six years 
ago, a small group of God's children gathered at Old Or- 
chard, Maine, and cried unto God for the opening of 



236 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Thibet. The result of that prayer-meeting has been the 
Christian and Missionary Alliance, three hundred foreign 
missionaries in many lands, four hundred native workers, 
one thousand orphans and about three thousand Chris- 
tians, Thibet opened to the gospel, with one of its once 
heathen monasteries now being used as a Christian chapel. 
Many more instances could be given; but this is sufficient 
to show what prayer has accomplished in this line. 

(b.) We are not only to look at the open doors, but also 
at the missionaries who entered these open doors, and we 
shall find that God was in this working in answer to prayer. 

In 1892, the Church Missionary Society of England 
set one day apart to pray that laborers might be thrust 
forth. Five years previous to this, fifty missionaries had 
been sent out, while during the five years following, there 
were one hundred and twelve who went; that is, more 
than double the former number. How willing God is to 
answer if we will only call upon Him. 

The China Inland Mission, in 1886, while 
their two hundred missionaries were assembled in confer- 
ence, felt led to ask God for one hundred missionaries to 
be sent out the next year. They were so assured that God 
had heard that they praised Him for them before the con- 
ference closed. During that year six hundred persons 
applied to the China Inland Mission and one hundred were 
accepted and sent out. 

Some six years ago at our annual conference, we were 
greatly burdened for more laborers to meet the pressing 
need in our work in the Kuangsi province in South China. 
Some one suggested that we ask God for twenty mission- 
aries; we did, and He sent the twenty during the next con- 
ference year. 

(c.) Not only have doors been opened and men thrust 
forth in answer to prayer, but money has been prayed into 
the treasury to carry on God's work. 

George Miiller, in his lifetime, in answer to prayers, re- 
ceived and disbursed seven million dollars. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 237 

At the same time that the China Inland Mission asked 
God for the one hundred missionaries, Hudson Taylor 
said that it would take fifty thousand dollars extra to sup- 
port those missionaries and carry on the work; and he 
also asked that God give it to them in large amounts. 
During that year eleven gifts came, ranging from two 
thousand, five hundred dollars to twelve thousand dollars, 
and the fifty thousand dollars was received and used. 

The greater part of the money received by the Christian 
and Missionary Alliance comes in answer to prayer. Last 
year, just before Easter, they saw that there was not 
enough money to close the fiscal year. Mr. Simpson re- 
quested prayer and a day was set apart throughout all the 
Alliance work to fast and pray that God would send in the 
twenty-eight thousand dollars deficit before the books were 
closed for the year. In answer to our prayers God did 
more than we asked or thought by sending in thirty thou- 
sand dollars instead of twenty-eight thousand dollars. 

Our receiving home in Wucheo was in process of build- 
ing when I reached China. The building committee had 
made a contract with the Chinese architect to continue 
building as long as God sent the money, and to stop 
if the money should fail to come in. The contractor said, 
"I am willing, for I have seen your God answer your 
prayers before." A short time after reaching China, 
one Wednesday afternoon, we were informed that there 
was only money enough to pay the workmen off that even- 
ing. We were called to prayer and to seek to know the 
mind of God, whether to dismiss the men, or trust the 
Lord to have the money there by Saturday, the regular 
time for paying them. We went on our faces before God 
and waited upon Him. Later, our superintendent asked 
each one separately what he believed to be the mind of 
God, and the same answer came from each: "Go on, He 
will have the money here." Thursday passed and no 
money; Friday passed and no money; Saturday came and 
still no money. But that afternoon at the regular time, 
the superintendent started to town with what money he 



238 Ada Beeson Farmer 

had, and on the way he met the postman, and a letter was 
handed to him. It contained a cablegram that read like 
this: "One Thousand Dollars for South China Home." He 
paid off the workmen and we had a praise meeting that 
evening! A short time after that a letter came from Amer- 
ica telling how that at the very hour we were praying in 
China, a woman in America was awakened with this bur- 
den, "Money needed for South China Home." She tried 
to get away from it, but could not, therefore, the next 
morning she wired to New York, "Cable a thousand dol- 
lars to South China for Home." Brethren, it pays to pray. 

III. Lastly, some things to be done through prayer. 
Prayer must be definite before it can be effectual, and peo- 
ple must know definite needs before they can pray definite 
prayers, therefore, the purpose of this part of my paper 
is to lay some definite needs upon your hearts for prayer. 

(a.) Now that all the doors of heathen lands are open, 
laborers is the first thing of importance. Laborers are di- 
vided into two classes, viz: foreign missionaries and native 
workers, and we might say, intercessory missionaries, mak- 
ing a third class. What is meant by intercessory mission- 
aries is, those whom God sets apart, that can not go, yet 
have a compassionate love for the heathen and will give 
much time to daily intercession. 

In South America and all Latin countries the people are 
turning from Roman Catholicism, and in some places re- 
ligious freedom is granted, yet it is still known as "The 
Neglected Continent." Five hundred ordained mission- 
aries are needed, also as many lay-workers and lady mis- 
sionaries, to carry the gospel to these people. Africa is 
open to the gospel as never before; in some places the chiefs 
have begged the missionaries to send them Christian teach- 
ers, promising the school building and house for the teacher, 
but there are none to send them. India, with her progress, 
fine railway system, and many other modern conveniences, 
still remains a land of idolatry and sin because so few go 
to take her the bread of life. Five thousand ordained 
missionaries and as many other workers are needed to 



Ada Beeson Farmer 



239 



evangelize this great land. Japan, the schoolmaster of the 
East, if she has Christ will take Him to other Eastern na- 
tions, but if not she will take Buddhism and infidelity. China, 
with her teeming millions is at last awakening from her 
sleep of centuries and turning from her idols in many 
places, and from things ancient, and is looking toward the 
West for learning and something to satisfy her longing 
heart and to make the nation great. She knows not what; 
but we know that her need is Jesus Christ. Opportunity is 
is written everywhere; still for her four hundred million 
people there are only six hundred and ten ordained mission- 
aries; or one to every six hundred and sixteen thousand 
precious souls. It will take eight thousand ordained mis- 
sionaries to give one to every fifty thousand. The mission 
boards are calling for seventeen hundred men now. We 
need ten young men in our Kuangsi work. We realize 
if China does not get the gospel now she will be in a 
far worse condition after Western learning, freedom, cigar- 
ettes, liquor and infidelity have permeated the homes and 
lives of her people, and these things are going into that 
country far ahead of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Some people in the face of these great needs laugh at 
the Student Volunteer Watchword, "The Evangelization 
of the World in this Generation," and say that there are 
not men enough to do it. There are men enough for every- 
thing else, why not for this? There are a plenty for the 
ministry at home, law, medicine, army, navy, and even to 
the building of railways at the cost of twenty lives to each 
mile of rail, as in the Congo; and there would be for the 
evangelization of the world if they would only go. There 
are one million, two hundred thousand graduates from the 
colleges and universities of our so-called Christian nations 
and one twenty-fourth of that number would be enough to 
evangelize the world. Why do they not go? One of the 
chief reasons is, because the church is not working on God's 
plan; is not obeying Christ's command: "Pray ye, therefore, 
the Lord of the harvest to thrust forth laborers into the 
harvest." Why does not the church pray that prayer? 



240 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Parents are afraid God will call their children; pastors are 
afraid God will send too many good people and too much 
money from the churches to the foreign field; and the 
young people fear He might want them to go. But I am 
addressing people who are supposed to be willing to do 
God's will. Perhaps you have not seen your duty before, 
but surely now you see the harvest is ripe and the reapers 
are few. Beloved, let us pray them into the fields. Not 
merely that God may call them, but that He will thrust 
them forth. 

(b.) We see the church must resort chiefly to prayer 
for workers, and workers and church must labor together 
in prayer for the salvation of the heathen. One of our 
stations in South China has been greatly blessed in the 
salvation of souls. We have wondered why this station 
seemed to be blessed above others, but one day when talking 
to the brother who had charge of that station, he remarked 
that much of his success was due to a group of people in 
America who were supporting him and who met once a 
week for special prayer for him and the work of that sta- 
tion; there I found the secret. 

A lady once took the support of four orphans in India 
and prayed for them each day as she did for her own 
children. There was a series of meetings held in that or- 
phanage and no one was saved but those four boys. But 
afterwards, from this a revival swept over the orphanage. 
Do you believe that it was a mere accident? No. I believe 
those boys were saved because that woman prayed. Every 
soul that is born into the kingdom of God, I believe some 
one has to travail in prayer for it. Nearly every one in 
this country has some one to pray for them, but in heathen 
lands there are millions who have no one to pray for them. 
May God cause you to be willing to travail in prayer for 
those poor lost souls; and when Jesus comes, and on 
throughout eternity, they will be looking you up and say- 
ing: "I am here because you prayed for me." Surely 
that is reward enough! 



Ada Beeson Farmer 241 

(c.) Pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon 
the church, the sanctification of believers, and to enable 
them to withstand opposition and persecution, and be used 
as a saving power to their own people. Pray for great re- 
vivals to sweep over all heathen lands. They come only 
through much prayer. 

(d.) Pray for money for God's work in heathen lands. 
It goes without saying, that these missionaries and native 
workers have to be supported, chapels, schools, and hospi- 
tals have to be built, Bibles and tracts bought, and it takes 
money to do it. The majority of boards come with the 
same cry, viz : not enough money to send out those who 
apply. What is the matter? Is the church too poor? No, 
the total wealth of the protestant church of the United 
States of America is twenty-five billion dollars, and their 
annual net increase over and above all expenditures is 
seven hundred and ninety-six million, two hundred and eight 
thousand dollars. If one-half of that were given to the 
direct use of evangelization, it would be nearly twenty times 
as much as is now being given by all the Protestant churches. 
God says: "The gold and silver are mine." This does 
not mean only the unmined gold and silver of the earth; 
but it means that in our pockets, banks, stocks and bonds, 
and that which is being used for self instead of for God. 
It is said that the women of America spend more money for 
flowers on their hats and kid gloves than the church spends 
for missions; and it has been computed that as much money 
has been smoked and chewed up by the men of the United 
States of America in one year as has been given to missions 
in a hundred years. I heard of a church that paid more for 
printed programs than to take Christ to the heathen. An- 
other spent twenty times as much on the choir as for mis- 
sions, and the soprano cost enough to support two mission- 
aries. We see that there are ample means, as well as men, 
to evangelize the world. You may say that I am not using 
mine that way; but what are you doing to place it in the 
right channel? You can pray some of this money which is 
spent so extravagantly into the coffers of the Lord. There 



242 Ada Beeson Farmer 

are poor women, who have little or nothing to give, but 
know how to pray, who are doing this. I fear that the rea- 
son why many are not praying is because they would have 
to buy fewer flowers for their hats, shorter gloves for their 
hands, less needless bric-a-brac for their houses, not so many 
fine clothes, and the preachers live on smaller salaries, have 
simpler churches, and no paid choirs. But beloved, it pays 
to give up all for Jesus and the perishing heathen. When 
we get to rock-bottom and really die to self and give up 
everything, then we are where we can be used of God to 
pray this money into the treasury. Had you not rather 
do this than to have all that the world can give? I had. 

(e.) Lastly, pray for the missionaries. Pray for us, that 
utterance may be given unto us, that we may speak boldly to 
make known the mystery of the gospel, also that we may 
speak boldly as we ought to speak. We need this as much 
to-day as did Paul. Pray that we may be kept in the fulness 
of love, and have great power, yea, power to do the 
"greater works," and that we may go forth as He has said, 
with signs and wonders following. 

Some one has said that a missionary went into a heathen 
temple on one occasion and it was all that he could do to 
restrain himself from bowing down to the idols, the power 
of the devil was so great. Many a missionary can testify 
to the fact that the power of Satan in heathen lands is 
very great, and that at times he would crush out body, soul 
and spirit if it were possible. At such times a missionary 
truly needs the prayers of a fellow Christian. It may 
be upon you he wants to lay such a burden. Often they are 
in great danger, and the only escape is through the prayers 
of some one upon whom God may lay the burden of prayer. 
I recall the instance of two of our missionaries spending 
a month on an island near Hongkong, when a terrible storm 
arose and their lives were in the most imminent danger. 
Just at that time the mother in America was burdened in 
prayer for her son and his wife. She prayed through to 
victory. Later she wrote and asked them what the trouble 
was at that particular time, saying: "I know it is all right 



Ada Beeson Farmer 243 

for I have the assurance." Thus does God long to pour 
His prayers through His children for the need of His 
Kingdom and its workers. 

Many times the missionaries are sick and can not pray for 
themselves and some one must stand for them. Once two 
of our missionaries were out on an itinerary when the wife 
was taken seriously ill. The husband cared for her until 
suddenly he was stricken down. There they were, far away 
from those who loved and cared for them, and from those 
who knew how to pray for their healing and they were 
too ill to pray for themselves. That night the helpless man 
looked up and said, "Father, lay this burden upon my 
mother's heart," and dropped off to sleep. They were 
healed, and the next day went on their journey. Not long 
after that a letter came from the mother in the home land 
telling how on a certain morning she arose as usual and 
started about her household duties when a burden seized 
her; she tried to go on, but the burden was great — and 
then — left her table uncleared and dishes unwashed, went 
into her closet and said: "Father, what is the matter? 
Who is it?" and the Spirit whispered, "your son." She 
prayed till she had assurance that all was well and then she 
resumed her daily task. Evening in China is morning in 
America, and it was the exact time that the missionary said 
"Lay the burden upon my mother's heart," that she heard 
the call and left all to go to prayer. 

This last spring while Brother Hess, of our South China 
mission was on the Pacific coast a lady came up to him after 
one of his missionary talks and said: "I see Miss Beulah 
Funk has passed away, and just at the time she was so ill 
and died I was so burdened for her, but was not true to the 
call of prayer. Now she is gone and it is too late. Perhaps 
if I had done my duty she would have been spared to the 
work." What remorse is hers! 

Oh, beloved, let it not be thus with any of you, that some 
life be laid down, some souls in China, India, or Africa 
lost because you failed to pray. If you are not where God 
can pray through you, pay the price and keep it paid; if you 



244 Ada Beeson Farmer 

are not giving the time to it, do so from this hour on and 
be a channel of great blessing — pray the workers into the 
field; yea, claim a hundred or more; pray the means into the 
treasury to make it possible for them to go; pray the souls 
into the kingdom from heathen lands — so that when Jesus 
comes those of us who have actually gone and those of you 
who remain and have prayed will come up together, bring- 
ing our sheaves with us, "to ever be with the Lord." 

Brethren, pray for us! The source of all power in the 
missionary enterprise is God, and this power is released only 
in answer to prayer. Therefore, beloved, pray! 



GO, LABOR ON 

Go, labor on while it is day; 
The world's dark night is hast'ning on; 
Speed, speed thy work, — cast sloth away! 
It is not thus that souls are won. 

Men die in darkness at your side, 
Without a hope to cheer the tomb; 
Take up the torch and wave it wide — 
The torch that lights time's thickest gloom. 

Toil on, faint not ; keep watch and pray ! 
Be wise the erring soul to win; 
Go forth into the world's highway; 
Compel the wanderer to come in. 

Go, labor on; your hands are weak; 
Your knees are faint, your soul cast down ; 
Yet falter not; the prize you seek 
Is near; — a kingdom and a crown. 

Horatius Bonar. 



CHAPTER XVI 

Return to China. Three Months' Stay at P'ingloh. 
Return to Liucheo 

Work for the night is coming, 

Under the sunset skies; 
While their bright tints are glowing, 

Work, for daylight flies; 
Work till the last beam fadeth, 

Fadeth to shine no more; 
Work while the night is darkening, 

When man's work is o'er. 

Annie L. Walker. 

And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and 
visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word 
of the Lord, and see how they do. — St. Paul. 

ANUARY i, 1909, dawned upon Mrs. 
Farmer still in America, but busily plan- 
ning for her return to China, as God had 
at last provided the necessary transporta- 
tion. The first week in January was spent 
in buying a few needed articles of comfort 
and packing them for China. By January 
5, heavy baggage was shipped and that needed for the long 
journey all packed and ready. Under that date she writes: 

Mother Farmer bore up bravely till we put her on the sleeper 
and then she broke down and wept bitterly. It was so hard to 
leave her, but God calls and we must go. We came back, ... a 
short visit at Erne's and bade them good-by. It was so hard to 
leave dear father, for he feels he will not live to see us again. God's 
will first. 

[January 6.] Praise God, we are on our way home — China; 
though it is hard to leave the dear ones, especially father and 
Mother Farmer. 

In the above extract Mrs. Farmer speaks of China as 
home. I am sure that every foreign missionary whom God 




248 Ada Beeson Farmer 

has called out for such glorious service fully appreciates 
what she means. How dear does the land and its people be- 
come to the Christian worker after he has spent some time 
in hard, self-sacrificing effort in behalf of them. We know 
that this may seem difficult for the uninitiated to compre- 
hend, but the land of one's adoption for the gospel's sake 
becomes, indeed, a home. 

[January 11.] Reached St. Paul. Twelve degrees below zero. 
Last night our engine broke down; we are four hours behind. We 
hoped to have reached St. Paul in time to get our train out for 
Van Couver, but too late. 

The weather being very cold and the route lying through 
the Canadian Rockies caused us to feel a little apprehen- 
sion about railway and boat connections, as it was so difficult 
for trains to make schedule time. The first impulse on reach- 
ing St. Paul and finding we were left was to fret; but later, 
when we realized from what we had been saved, we were 
made to praise God again and again, that it was ever writ- 
ten, "All things work together for good to them that love 
the Lord." Besides the wreck of one or two freight trains 
ahead of us, the very passenger tram which we had failed 
to make connection with in St. Paul, had been badly wrecked 
in British Columbia by some boulders rolling down the 
mountainside, and the snow covering them the train had 
been derailed, engine and coaches rolling down the decliv- 
ity and partially sinking into the Fraser River. Oh, if Chris- 
tians would only believe that everything that comes to the 
consecrated child of God comes by His notice and permis- 
sion, what joy and rest would fill the perplexing moments 
as well as those when we can so clearly beforehand discern 
the hand of God! 

On reaching Van Couver, late Saturday evening, January 
16, we found that the steamer had waited for delayed trains, 
ours being the first to get through in three days, so that we 
really made time in the end by being behind time. In Mrs. 
Farmer's "Daily Light" under the date of January 17, is 
the following: 



Ada Beeson Farmer 249 

This morning we sailed out from Van Couver, leaving native 
land and loved ones for the second time, for Him and souls in dark 
China. 

The voyage across was extremely rough, the vessel's 
progress being much hindered by strong head-winds. Mrs. 
Farmer being such a poor sailor even in fair weather, kept 
much in her cabin all the way across. As the boat neared 
Japan we found quieter waters and she was very glad of 
the opportunity to go ashore at Yokohama. In a letter to 
her people she tells of how she was beseiged by the "rick- 
sha men" or coolies — a most common and every-day sight 
in Eastern ports. 

We reached Yokohama Saturday afternoon and as soon as we 
could get ashore, went, for we realized that we had little time to 
do all we had to do. The first thing, in the midst of "ricksha 
men," a dozen of them following after us asking where we wanted 
to go and saying, "I will show you the postoffice; I will show you 
the money-changers; I will take you to the temple for twenty sen; 
I will show you the silk-shops," etc. We went and had our 
money changed into Japanese money, and then to the postoffice, 
and then to the shops, all the time these men following us and each 
one trying to get us into his "ricksha." One kept saying to me, 
"Lady I belong you, I belong you ; you ride in my ricksha," and 
I all the time assuring him I did not want him, until the rest of the 
friends called him "Mrs. Farmer's man," but she did not take 
him. 

When we got to the shops and really went in and began buying 
things they finally left us, deciding that we were some foreigners 
off the boat that knew something about the East. 

The above incident can not be fully appreciated by people 
at home unless they have heard the "pidgin English" of the 
East spoken with all of its inflection and gesticulation. 

We set sail at three p. m., instead of twelve or one. We had 
a glorious sunset just as we were going out of the harbor, with 
a light-house, Fujiyama (the Japanese sacred mountain), hills 
and water, and a sail-boat near the horizon. It was a glad and 
glorious sight with a very brilliant cloud effect. I thought, in 
that way, one day, our Lord shall break through the clouds in 
His glory and what a blessed day that will be! Our part is to 
be ready and watching. God, grant not one will be found not ready, 
but each one washed in His blood and ready to "Behold Him in 
his beauty." 



250 Ada Beeson Farmer 

[February 17.] Arrived at Hongkong, praise God! . . . My 
heart is full of praise to God to really get back to China once more 
to preach to these dear Chinese women who have no one to tell 
them of Jesus. 

It did not take long to do a little shopping and arrange 
for a trip up the West River to Wucheo. 

[February 21.] Reached Wucheo two p. m. God only knows 
how my heart rejoices to be back here once more. It is like coming 
back home; went all over the house like a child. 

Reaching the field so late in the conference year, and 
Liucheo having been supplied with workers, it was thought 
best to go to P'ingloh, which was without any foreign mis- 
sionary at the time, and work there until the annual confer- 
ence. It was naturally a great disappointment to Mrs. Far- 
mer, as she had expected on reaching Wucheo, to go imme- 
diately to her old work at Liucheo. Moreover, she found 
on reaching the field and conferring with the superintend- 
ent, that there were some points in reference to the proposed 
Mandarin training schools which were not just clear to the 
minds of all. One was, as to what extent the industrial 
feature was to occupy in the schools, and another, as to 
where these schools should be located. She thought that 
these questions had been fully settled by the conference at 
which her paper on "Mandarin Training Schools" had been 
read, but at the succeeding conference these questions were 
again raised by some of the members and so necessitated 
a reconsideration of the whole problem. To one of Mrs. 
Farmer's earnest nature it was a hard trial to have to wait 
until another conference before she could explain fully her 
plans, especially since she had conferred with the superin- 
tendent on the field and the home board regarding the mat- 
ter, and the result had been satisfactory. 

But never was time better spent for God and His kingdom 
than the three months she spent at P'ingloh. It gave her 
time for reflection and prayer regarding the schools; and the 
work not being quite so heavy as at Liucheo, she had op- 
portunity to review her Chinese language, which she most 
assidiously did. And, above all, she worked as earnestly 
for the salvation of souls in P'ingloh as if she expected to 



Ada Beeson Farmer 251 

remain there always. That her work was "not in vain in 
the Lord," we shall see from her diaries and letters which 
cover these three months. 

[March 4.] I awoke early; yes, long before day, with a burden 
about schools. . . . We changed our American clothes and put on 
our old-time Chinese clothes. We then had a talk with Brother 
Hess about the school. After that, had a better understanding; 
but still to trust God to work it out. / do believe, "He is faithful." 

[March 12.] We reached P'ingloh about twelve, noon, and got 
off at the lower Customs and walked into the city. Lao Liao 
and R'f Tsie were already here. Lao Liao had moved all of our 
things in from outside chapel except two boxes of books that had 
been under water. Many recognized us on the street and seemed 
glad to have us back. I will rejoice in His will to be here. Lord, 
give us souls here in P'ingloh these months. 

[March 13.] All books have been under water some time, and 
ruined as far as books are concerned, and much of our furniture 
damaged greatly and several valuable things gone. I have been 
tempted to feel bad about it; but by His grace, I will rejoice 
and "Take joyfully the spoiling of our goods." Heard there are 
robbers at Maling near us, "The Lord is Thy keeper." 

It was a little hard to rejoice when on returning to P'ing- 
loh it was found that the household furniture, including our 
books, which had been collected from school-days and great- 
ly prized, had been all removed to the outside street-chapel 
and stored in the loft, so as to give more room in the little 
old house in the city. During the spring rains the river 
rose unusually high and the chapel, being near the bank of 
the river was soon inundated, even the loft. When the 
water subsided a nice deposit of mud was left on everything, 
to say nothing of the awful condition of our books, which 
are so valuable to a Christian worker. But, that even in 
this there was a cause for thanksgiving, is shown by the 
following letter written soon after reaching P'ingloh. 

We reached here Friday noon and got things pretty well straight 
by Saturday night and were ready to worship with our Chinese 
brothers and sisters here on Sunday. 

True enough, we found that at least one-third of our books and 
most of our furniture had been under water during the flood of 
last year. Our books, which were once our pride, are now any- 
thing but what we can be proud of, still it is an opportunity to 
prove by His grace the "taking joyfully the spoiling of our goods" 



252 Ada Beeson Farmer 

and is teaching us as never before to "set not our affections on 
things on the earth." We not only praise God in this loss, but 
praise Him that our most constantly used books of reference were 
sent to Wucheo by what we thought was a mistake when we went 
to America; but it proved to be His providence, for they are in 
perfect condition. 

[March 14.] This is our first Sunday in P'ingloh since coming 
back. Mrs. Kong went and invited the women to come; all the 
Christians that are here came but one, and the one woman inquirer, 
then the women's side filled up with members of the P'an family 
and friends. It did my heart more good than I can say to see 
Luh Ih T'ai (the woman who tried to suicide), come to Sunday 
service. Lord, I am still trusting you to save this woman! "Big 
Dog and Little Dog's (Chinese children's names) grandmother 
came with the children. How many times I have prayed for this 
woman and her crippled grandson ! The boy is much better and 
can walk now. Praise God for this! Lord, work and give souls 
these few months here. 

[March 15.] A young married woman and some children called. 
She was a mere girl five years ago when we came, and she came 
then nearly every day to study the gospel. Lord, save her yet. 

[March 17.] The city was in confusion about robbers and few 
people could get in the city gates. Robbers at Ch'angt'an, thirty li 
south of here. 

[March 26.] I had to help the cook look after dinner; everything 
seemed to go wrong. The Lord helped me to keep above it. 

[March 27.] Awoke at six a. m. and heard the birds singing, 
and I said they were praising their God and I would, too, so had 
a long season of prayer. 

[March 30.] Went calling with Bible-woman; very good oppor- 
tunity at the last. Came in to find that Mrs. Kong had washed 
the flannels in hot water and rinsed them in cold. Poor thing, she 
did not know. 

[April 1.] Went calling with Bible- woman. Went out West 
Gate and had a very good opportunity at one house. It was so 
wet and muddy we did not go further. Oh, if the women only 
knew our motive and what we have to bring them! Lord, open 
their hearts and minds to the truth. One old lady near the grave. 
How I longed for her to believe and be saved. 

[April 4.] There was another scare about robbers, so few came 
to church. 

[April 6.] Bible- woman and I went across the river to the village. 
Woman was not at home, but another invited us to go to her house. 
She and her son were glad to hear, but the daughter-in-law fussed 



Ada Beeson Farmer 253 

terribly. Hundreds of people were going out to worship the graves. 
Poor things, they are feeling after God, but do not know we can 
tell them the way. 

Among the many burdens which bear heavily upon the 
souls of Christian workers is that implied in the last clause 
of the foregoing quotation. To know that one has the 
knowledge of the true and only way of eternal life and to 
see the multitudes around refuse to see and believe it. It 
is a burden in the home land, but its weight is increased many 
fold on the foreign field. Jesus Christ had this burden to 
an intolerable degree when He wept over the Holy City 
saying: "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the 
prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how 
often would I have gathered thy children together, even 
as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye 
would not." St. Paul later on, expresses the same feeling 
when he said: "I have great heaviness and continual sor- 
row in my heart, for I could wish that myself were accursed 
from Christ for my brethren." Reader, has Jesus Christ 
ever become so precious to you that you feel the awful con- 
dition of the unsaved about you? 

[April 8.] Bible-woman and I called and had good opportunity 
after a time of wandering around. The last place — a gambling 
den and brothel. Poor, sin, Satan-bound people, how they need 
to know our Christ! We are powerless, but praise God He is all 
powerful and it is Him we trust to gather out His own from this 
people. 

[April 11. Easter Sunday.] I studied Bible first on prayer, then 
on the Resurrection, and the Lord blessed me in my spirit. I then 
went and had another season of prayer. Wilmoth preached two 
hours on the Resurrection, and the Lord blessed. The little chapel 
looked so refreshing with the flowers. . . . No children came, there- 
fore I lay down and rested and read two "Alliance" papers. The 
Lord spoke to me through a message on the "Hard places." I 
realize that God is giving us this time of waiting to test our faith 
regarding schools, Liucheo, etc. So, by His grace I will stand. 

[April 16.] Bible study still on prayer. Lord, I want to be 
a good prayer, whether I am a preacher or not. 

[April 18.] The pumoloe tree is full of blooms and the air 
full of fragrance. May my life ever be as fragrant in giving out 
His fragrance. 



254 Ada Beeson Farmer 

That the last two petitions just quoted, were fully vouch- 
safed to her by her Lord, her godly life well attested. Only 
day before yesterday, we received a letter from a friend of 
Mrs. Farmer's, who in closing said that she would that her 
own life should have in a measure at least, of the fragrance 
which Mrs. Farmer's life had left behind. 

[April 22.] Great noise of worshiping at the temple on the hill. 
Peh Ti idol's birthday. Went with the Bible-woman to see Mrs. 
Liu, she just ready to go to a marriage feast. We sat and talked 
with the women. In came a child with signs of smallpox — a 
great fear came over me. The woman thought it was too late 
to take it. I claimed God's promises, "I shall be a wall of fire 
round about," and Psa. xci. At the next place another came in 
with smallpox. . . . "But God." 

[April 26.] Went to see Mrs. Kong. Praise God for healing 
her. 

[April 29.] I awoke and had my season of prayer, but felt weak. 
A day of testing regarding smallpox. I read afresh the promises 
God had given me for China; "For I will be unto her a wall of 
fire round about." Psa. xci. I re-read and told God if I am not 
in the "secret place" to let me know what I lack and He showed 
me no wrong, so all I can do is — "I will trust and not be afraid." 
Went calling. 

[May I.] Felt very badly and tested still; but still claiming 
His promises. Wrote letters, ironed Wilmoth's shan (Chinese 
coat), read "Life of St. Paul." Had headache, but felt God would 
have me go in His strength and dig weeds in the yard and He met 
me there. Victory has come! My heart is full of praise. Wilmoth 
played the organ and I so enjoyed it. I had a long season of 
prayer and praise. 

We quote below from a letter written the last of April 
to her sister-in-law. 

Well, it is good, the wintry blasts do not last long and spring 
coming with all her beauty and joy one soon forgets the former. 
So it is in the Christian life, the hard trials are soon forgotten in 
the great joy He gives. So we, too, are having birds to sing for 
us each morning in the grape-fruit tree by our window, also in some 
trees in the Fu yamen (prefect's official dwelling), yard near by. I 
can not tell how much I have enjoyed them. It has been more like 
being awakened at the old home place by the birds in former days. 
Our hearts within have accorded with their songs without, and all 
has been joyous. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 255 

We have three pots of the large red lily in bloom. I have not 
counted the blossoms, but the stems I have, and there are twentv-one 
of those, and some have four or five buds each, so you can imagine 
how beautiful they are. Everybody that comes in has something to 
say about them. 

I am so glad you have such an interesting missionary society and 
glad you are making it a study class and learning something about 
the great mission work and needs. When this is known and con- 
secration of heart and life is sufficient, the needed money will be 
forthcoming, far more than will come from "sewing bees" with 
little knowledge and less consecration. There is no finer study nor 
more instructive and interesting than that of missions and mission- 
ary biography. 

We, as you know, are here where we first began work after we 
were married and it is just like coming back home again. The 
dear old woman who was saved from opium smoking is standing so 
true. She is a true witness here in this dark city, and every one 
who knows her speaks of how changed she is. Her husband who 
was saved after her, but before we left for America, is true, too. 
He does not seem to have grown in grace as much as she has. One 
of her daughters was saved while I was at home. There are two 
sons and one daughter and a daughter-in-law she is daily praying 
for. The married daughter was here at the woman's meeting to- 
day. There was a nice little crowd of women and children, and I 
spoke to them from Mat. vii.13, 14; "The Two Roads." How we 
long for more to believe. There is one woman ready for baptism, 
and another earnestly inquiring, and one man. 

In a letter to one of her little nieces we have a splendid 
picture of one phase of the work of the women and children. 

My Dear Catherine: — We were glad to get your picture — it 
is splendid. I have it on my desk right where we can see it all 
the time, and think of the little girl away over in America who 
loves to play dolls, ride the "flying-jinnie," and go to school, too. 

You should have been here to-day at our children's meeting, which 
came near being a woman's meeting, for there were twenty children, 
five nearly grown girls, and twelve women. We sang, "Jesus Loves 
Me, This I Know," repeated part of the "Three Character Classic" 
on the Creation and God, memorized one verse of "Jesus Loves the 
Children of the World," and sang it; memorized John xiv.27, and 
I gave them a black-board lesson on the "Troubled Heart" and 
"Peaceful Heart." They all, young and old, listened for over an hour 
altogether, singing, memorizing, and my talk to them, and then 
the Bible-woman preached to them for a while, after which I 
gave all the children each a picture-card and let them go. The 
women then wanted me to play the organ and sing some more, 



256 Ada Beeson Farmer 

which I did. It was all so strange and new to most of the women 
and to some of the children. 

There are lots of pretty little girls in China, if their faces are 
yellow. They have beautiful black hair and black eyes. I will 
send you some pictures of some of them one of these days if I can 
get any good ones taken. 

Be a good girl and learn fast, and perhaps Jesus will let you come 
over and help me one of these days when you are grown. 

Love to "Dad" and mother from uncle Wilmoth and me, keeping 
much for yourself. 

Your loving, 

Aunt Ada. 

[May 2.] Home mail came while we were at breakfast. I read 
and cried, for I felt that they cared so much more for me than I 
deserved. Lord, I do want and expect to be in my inner life and 
home life what I appear from the platform. Thy grace is sufficient. 

[May 3.] I had a good night's sleep after I got to sleep, but I 
could not help but think of Mrs. Chang's daughter who is engaged 
to a heathen man and to be married this year. She is twelve or 
thirteen years old — Lord, intervene in some way. 

[May 4.] Went to the P'ans. The doorkeeper said the T'ai T'ai 
was not in; but Mrs. Kong had o;one in ahead and the T'ai T'ai 
was coming out to receive me; but the young lad was very angry 
and pushed Mrs. Kong. We did not go in — we did not care for 
ourselves but trust God to work good of it. 

How often the lives of missionaries are endangered and 
the gospel hindered by not having proper places in which 
to live and carry on the work. How often we hear some 
well-meaning Christian, but one who is ignorant of condi- 
tions which prevail on the mission field, say that they are 
willing to take the personal support of the foreign mission- 
ary, but not willing to help build houses or chapels for the 
same. If missionaries, in China at least, do not have suit- 
able premises in which to live and work it is almost impos- 
sible to do anything that will tell as it should for the king- 
dom of God. 

Mrs. Farmer's whole missionary life was largely spent 
in the low lofts of rented Chinese houses. A letter dated 
May 8, 1909, says: 

We have been having rain, rain, rain, these past few days; in 
fact, nearly all this week. For three days and nights it has hardly 
stopped, but praise God for the little sunshine to-day. It seems 



Ada Beeson Farmer 257 

we can not get our roof so it will not leak somewhere, and then we 
have to get up at night to see what is getting wet. Well, there is 
an end to all things, and one of these days, if He tarries, we will 
have a new house and I tell Mr. Farmer that I have two things 
to say about the building: that it shall be tall enough to be cool 
and the roof be made so that it will not leak! I have had to 
remain indoors all the week except one afternoon, and I told the 
Bible-woman it was like caging a bird to keep me indoors all the 
time. I do not see how they stay in from one year's end to the other ; 
but at least one-half of the women in China do. She remarked the 
other day while we were out that if she had never become a Chris- 
tian she would not have seen the scenery around the different places 
she now goes. 

[May 11.] Bought a summer shan (coat), and called tailor. 
I dislike to spend money for myself, but have to sometimes. Great 
idol procession on though it is damp, and so no use going calling. 

[May 12.] No woman's meeting for it is idol-procession day 
and no one came. 

[May 13.] Did not go calling for it is the biggest day of the 
idol procession, and no use. 

The spring is the time when much attention Is given to 
the idols. They are taken from their shrines in the temple, 
placed in special chairs for the purpose and escorted through 
the principal streets of the city by a retinue of priests and 
scholars dressed in silk and satin robes, a great multitude 
of people following. A band chiefly of gongs, shrill fifes, 
and long trumpets accompany them. Temple utensils, as 
censers, sacred receptacles, and great quantities of food are 
carried on tables. As the procession moves down the nar- 
row streets the residents come to the front of the shops and 
homes and burn candles, incense, paper money, and shoot 
off thousands of firecrackers. It is truly pitiful to see how 
earnestly they "K'o-t'eo" (bow to the ground until the head 
touches), and have the little children to do the same, as 
the horrible, ugly idol goes by. After the procession is 
over all who have contributed to it and had a share in carry- 
ing it out, have a feast on the pile of good things which are 
carried into the idol's temple to be divided among them and 
there eaten or else carried home and eaten. Thousands and 
thousands of dollars are thus annually spent in this false 
worship. 



258 Ada Beeson Farmer 

At such a time the very atmosphere seems satanic, for 
back of all idol-worship is that old arch deceiver, Satan. It 
seems incredible that a nation of such intellectual acumen 
could be so ignorant in worship. The same might have 
been said of Israel, and if we do not misinterpret prophecy, 
so shall it again be said of enlightened nations of the West. 
When an individual, or a city, or a nation is in the toils of 
sin and Satan, there is no telling what will be done. People 
of the highest intellectuality will stoop to the lowest forms 
of superstition and uncleanness. Behold old Greece and 
Rome! 

[June 1.] Went to see Iang's mother. She was cool and hard 
against the gospel. Poor old soul ! She does not realize that her son 
is right, but thinks he has east her away. 

[June 7.] Awoke early and had a long season of prayer for the 
condition of the church here and the city. The Lord spoke to me 
that "men ought always to pray and not to faint." Lord, help me. 

After leaving P'ingloh to go to Liucheo, and subsequently 
to America, P'ingloh station was first in the care of one and 
then another, and sometimes, no one. Naturally it told 
on the Christians, and some grew cold, some went back into 
sin, and on our return to P'ingloh, while there were many 
things to thank God for, there were also many things over 
which to weep and pray. But God always encourages His 
children enough to keep them from despair, so we find in 
Mrs. Farmer's diary under date of June 8 : 

Five years ago to-day, eleven a. m., I reached P'ingloh, the first 
foreign woman to ever come. Property has been bought and fifteen 
souls gathered in, but too sad, two have gone back. Others stand- 
ing true, and still others nearly ready for baptism. Praise His dear 
name! All the glory is His! 

[June 9.] Woman's meeting — several women in. The theater 
is going on in the Fu temple in front of the house. The Lord 
blessed — I preached on "The Rich Man and Lazarus." Three said 
they wanted to be saved : Mrs. Chang, A'U, and Uen Si' Sao. Lord, 
really save them. 

Another cause of thanksgiving is told in a letter: 

Yesterday was our "All day of prayer." Mr. Farmer and I 
prayed together in English in the forenoon, and in the afternoon 
with the Chinese. One of the men who was quitting opium got 



Ada Beeson Farmer 259 

discouraged and has quit coming. Poor fellow, if he would only- 
cast himself on God. The other one, praise God, is cured! We 
have had him here in the house this week to prove whether it be 
really true or not, and he seems so true in every way. He is a wood- 
carver. Last week or the week before, he was offered a job, a good- 
paying one, to carve an idol and he refused, saying he could not 
do it without sinning against the true God. It means so much more 
for one to follow Christ in this land; but greater will be the glory 
to those who dare to go all the way, no matter the cost. 

Mr. Farmer and I have been studying Conybeare and Howson's 
"Life of St. Paul," with the Epistles as they come in their chrono- 
logical order, and, of course, it takes Acts, too, and we are getting so 
much good from it. There is so much in common with our work and 
Paul's. 

[June 25.] Talked with Mrs. Chang. She said she would not 
burn incense for the house any longer. Poor U Mei, only God 
can release her. 

A word of explanation will clear up the above reference 
to Mrs. Chang burning incense "for the house." It is quite 
common in China when tenants rent and move into a house 
that the household gods and possibly ancestral tablets of 
the landlord may be in the main shrine in the home, and 
so the new tenant agrees to burn the daily offering of incense 
morning and evening, receiving a nominal reduction in the 
rent for such service. This Mrs. Chang was very earnest 
and had discarded idol-worship herself, but she had to be 
taught that she could not even burn incense for others, as 
it made her party to the offense. She had not so regarded 
it until Mrs. Farmer talked with her, and then she was 
quite willing to give it up, even at the financial loss to her- 
self, which meant something, as she was poor and needed 
every cent she could possibly get. 

Little U Mei was a girl of thirteen or fourteen years of 
age, but quite grown in her ways, and was soon to be mar- 
ried to a heathen man, the engagement having been con- 
tracted by her parents some time previous to the time she 
and her mother had begun to study the gospel. Mrs. Chang 
was anxious to break off the engagement; but the father 
who was away at the capital and a worldly-wise man, know- 
ing nothing of the gospel, was unwilling. As the man is 
head of affairs, what could be done? She was a pretty girl, 



260 Ada Beeson Farmer 

refined in looks and manner, and was to be married to a 
very common, uncouth carpenter. She shrank from the 
marriage and used to sit crying and praying for God to de- 
liver her in some way. 

The "middle woman" who helped to negotiate the mar- 
riage watched her and her mother like a cat and reported 
every visit they made to the chapel, and also circulated vile 
talk about the young girl. The intended husband also tried 
to hinder her from attending the services; but since she was 
living in her own mother's house at the time, he could do 
nothing more than threaten. They suffered much persecu- 
tion, but remained so true. Hearing that U Mei might 
submit to baptism, he threatened to get up a band of men 
and on the day of the baptismal service and take her by 
force. Her faith and fearlessness were beautiful to see, be- 
ing even stronger than that of her mother's and she said it 
mattered not what came, she was ready to follow the Lord. 

[June 26.] Sent for Mrs. Chang and asked if she had quit helping 
her landlord worship idols — she had. Still burdened for U Mei, and 
asked what about her being baptized, too. We decided to go and 
tell her intended husband, but U Mei said she was ready to follow 
Jesus, and did not need to tell him. We had prayer together and 
told both to come prepared to be received into the church. Praise 
God for this! 

[June 27.] I awoke at five a. m. and could do nothing but praise 
God for hearing prayer and that U Mei is saved, too. Wilmoth 
and I prayed and committed the baptismal service to the Lord, U Mei, 
and her intended husband, even though he did say he would steal 
her away if she was baptized. God is able, Hallelujah! Wilmoth 
preached on Romans vi. and Col. ii.ii, 12, baptism and its meaning. 
The Lord blessed. Aftenvards, Mr. Ch'en, Mrs. Ts'iang, Mrs. 
Chang and her daughter U Mei, were received into the church. We 
then arranged for the baptism that afternoon. We women went, 
two by two, out the North gate of the city and the men out the 
other gate. We went above the Customs station. These four pre- 
cious ones followed Christ in baptism. They were so happy; at the 
evening service they with us partook of the Lord's Supper and all 
praised God with full hearts. My heart is running over. 

You Western women who read the above concerning little 
U Mei, can not realize what it meant for her to thus step 
out and unite herself with the Christian church. Ostracism, 



Ada Beeson Farmer 261 

persecution and vile slander impugning her womanly purity, 
which is guarded most sacredly by the majority of Chinese 
women; the dread of the wrath and cruelty of the man who 
was in a short time to become her husband and an inexor- 
able tyrant, who already had gone as far as he could to 
thwart her from becoming a Christian — all this she faced 
with a modesty and womanly dignity which was beautiful 
to see. We can now hear the scoffs and jeers of her enemies 
as she stepped into the water to receive that sacred rite 
which would announce to the world that she had become a 
follower of the despised "foreign devils' " God. And yet, 
some poor ignorant and unbelieveing people in the home 
land say that the Chinese who unite with the Christian 
church are all "rice Christians." Reader, have you ever 
suffered the loss of all things for Jesus Christ and His king- 
dom? Yea, have you ever suffered the loss of anything for 
espousing His cause? 

Of course the news of this girl's entrance into the church 
spread everywhere; and the old "middle woman" being so 
afraid that the marriage might be broken up and she fail 
to get her fee and feast, which her covetous heart would 
not forego even for U Mei's eternal peace and happiness, 
urged the man to hasten the wedding, which he did by mov- 
ing the date several weeks earlier and pressing the parents 
for the girl. The wedding soon took place and we could 
do nothing, as the whole matter was according to Chinese 
law and the father of U Mei had wished it so. As soon 
as she was married her husband of course refused to let her 
attend any more Christian services, though on one or two 
visits to her mother's home, she did slip into the chapel to 
see Mrs. Farmer. Mrs. Farmer had hoped that after U 
Mei embraced Christianity her intended husband, like Ta 
Mei's, the young daughter of our servant-woman, would 
not care to have her, but he did. We heard that there was 
much discord in her home because of the differences of re- 
ligion, as the women of the home have to worship the hus- 
band's ancestors, the idols, etc. How could it be otherwise, 
for we are commanded to "be not unequally yoked together 



262 Ada Beeson Farmer 

with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness 
with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with 
darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or 
what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? . . .where- 
fore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith 
the Lord." 

After leaving P'ingloh, the Chinese preacher told us that 
little U Mei, in all her sorrow and grief, had one day be- 
come desperate and tried to hang herself to a rafter in her 
room, but was prevented from doing so by timely interven- 
tion. Reader, does not the above incident reveal the tragedy 
of woman's life in China? What could this poor helpless 
girl, only fourteen years of age, do? Her parent was 
against her, and from his own authority handing her over 
to one who would tyranize over her with still greater liberty 
and severity, and the law of the land sanctioning them in 
it all. This gives us a glimpse into the sad condition of the 
women of the East. And be it well remembered by you 
Western women, that the glorious privileges you enjoy to- 
day, were given to you by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Do 
you owe nothing to your sisters across the seas? Ever- 
lasting shame upon you if you feel you do not! 

Although a bamboo shed had been built over the roof of 
the little mission house, still the heat was becoming more 
intense each day and the loft unfit to live in. Just before 
going to the coast, a pleasant trip to Kweilin to visit Mr. 
and Mrs. Cunningham and aid them in a few days of special 
meetings for the Chinese, was made. A gentleman from a 
market town between P'ingloh and Kweilin, who had been 
inquiring into the gospel, was very desirous to have us visit 
the town and preach there. As his place was within two 
hours' walk of Iangsoh, the city where we were to anchor 
the first night out from P'ingloh, we decided to get sedan- 
chairs for Mrs. Farmer and Bible-woman, while he and I 
would walk to the market town. He went with us on our 
boat to Iangsoh, which we reached about nine o'clock at 
night. He went ashore and perfected all arrangements for 
the trip to his home the next morning. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 263 

[July 6.] Mr. P'eng called us at daybreak and had chairs ready. 
We dressed hurriedly and prayed as we went. Wilmoth and cook- 
walked with Mr. P'eng, Bible-woman and I rode. We reached 
Pehsha about eight-thirty a. m. The women and men poured in 
and we talked to them until breakfast was ready; ate, and then 
room again filled up. The Bible-woman and I took turns preach- 
ing to the women from then until four p. m. ; had evening meal, 
and talked until we left. Many women begged us to stay several 
days and preach to them, and how I longed to do so. Lord, we 
trust Thee for souls from this place. 

It was a day well spent in preaching and witnessing the 
gospel to the many who had never before heard, especially 
among the women. Mrs. Farmer was just delighted, for 
she so often longed to go on such itinerant trips into the 
country and give the gospel to the country women of the 
villages and market towns; but the territory in which she 
worked was so raw and new, and not having suitable places 
for women to go, as was the case at Pehsha, where we were 
the guests of this friend, most of her time was spent in the 
cities and villages, or hamlets near the city. 

The days spent in Kweilin were pleasant and profitable. 
As conference was not to convene until September 18, the 
interim was spent by Mrs. Farmer at Hongkong in Old 
Kowloon on the bay, in company with a party of mission- 
aries. It was a very happy vacation and no one enjoyed 
it more fully than she. And well did she and the others 
recuperate their strength, for the days which lay just ahead 
of them were days calculated to try them to the utmost. 

The summer of 1909 was marked by a great epidemic 
of chills and fever, especially in Central and Southern 
China; Chinese and foreigners alike suffered from it. It 
was a most malignant and prolonged type of malarial fever. 
The South China conference was called together September 
18, and that date found several of the missionaries very 
sick with malaria, and in a little while two of the' cases 
developed into typhoid. In a few days the receiving home 
at Wucheo looked like a hospital, and it was very difficult 
to transact conference business, as so many of the well 
members had to be called upon to give their attention to the 
sick ones. 



264 Ada Beeson Farmer 

It was a time of great moment to Mrs. Farmer, as she 
expected the conference to reach a final decision regarding 
the Mandarin training schools. Also the presence of Rev- 
erend A. E. Funk, foreign field secretary of the Christian 
and Missionary Alliance, tended to make the occasion all 
the more one of interest and importance. Mrs. Farmer 
again presented her paper and plans for the school, and 
the question was thoroughly discussed. After much prayer 
and waiting upon God it was decided by the conference that 
such schools for the Mandarin district should be, and that 
Liucheo was the best place for the same. Mrs. Farmer was 
naturally very happy over this decision for it accorded fully 
with her convictions regarding the matter and fulfilled the 
earnest importunate prayers which she had been offering 
the past months. 

[September 27.] Praise God for how He worked during Con- 
ference and answered prayers, and worked out what He laid on 
my heart three years ago. Lord, help me to be true to you. 

She was very desirous of going immediately to Liucheo 
after conference, but as many were still sick, she with sev- 
eral others remained at Wucheo to help and nurse those 
needing attention. One young lady to whom Mrs. Farmer 
had been made a blessing when in the home land on fur- 
lough, was sick with typhoid fever, and she could not refuse 
her pitiful appeal to remain with her longer and until she 
was better. It meant much sacrifice to Mrs. Farmer, for 
while some one else might have remained in her place with 
the sick ones, yet no one could begin the work which she 
hoped to inaugurate on her return to Liucheo, she having 
been appointed to this particular work and having mapped 
out her plans, etc. 

[October 29.] Wilmoth left this morning at four o'clock for 
Liucheo to buy the adjoining property, for we have found we can 
not build our chapel and house advantageously without it. There 
is no telling how much longer we will have to be here to care for 
the sick. I hated to see him go alone, but it is for God and His 
work. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 265 

[October 30.] The sick ones had a good night, but this morning 
after sleeping, I felt pretty bad and disappointed. God's will, not 
mine be done. 

[November 5.] All invited to 's for afternoon tea. I took 

care of the sick ones upstairs and down, and let all the others go. 

She was so unselfish and loving in her service! How 
faithfully she ministered to Miss Lewis and also kept the 
anxious father in America posted is shown by a large packet 
of letters handed to me by the latter since I returned to 
America, in which every symptom and daily condition of 
his daughter were written, mingled with words of hope, 
faith, and prayer that he might not be over anxious about 
her who was lying so low. 

Little did Mrs. Farmer realize at this time that in just 
over a year, she too would be stricken down with illness and 
need the care of loving Christian hands; and we can truly 
say the service she graciously and lovingly rendered to those 
sick and helpless then was more than repaid to her later 
on in her own illness. 

"Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in 
the morning." At last all who were sick became convalesc- 
ent enough for most of those to leave who lived in other 
places than Wucheo, but had been detained to help nurse. 
"Praise God, off for Liucheo at last." So wrote Mrs. Far- 
mer under the date of November 30, and ten or twelve days 
more found her happy in her home at Liucheo. 



FAITH 

Fear not but trust, O child of God, 
When darkness veils thy way; 

It is the path the saints have trod, 
And leads to brightest day. 

When friends cannot thy sorrow know, 

Let not thy heart despair; 
The place for grief and tears to flow, 

Is the mercy seat of prayer. 

Each fear and sorrow to Him take, 

And dare to tell Him all ; 
God will not leave thee, nor forsake, 

When on His name thou'lt call. 

He treasures still the promise made 

One happy, happy day, 
By which thyself and all were laid 

Within His arms to stay. 

Then soared thy soul upon the wing, 

And promised by His grace, 
To ever trust for everything, 

In every time and place. 

Be patient, though delay is long, 

And seems so out of time; 
God's clock can't strike the hour wrong, 

His wisdom is sublime. 

He wants thy faith and love tj test, 

And lead to higher plains 
Where He can give His very best, 

And losses will be gain. 

Do not despair, but only trust, 
And everv test will prove 

What God hath said, He 11 do- 
To show His wondrous love. 

Wilmoth A. Far 



CHAPTER XVII. 



Beeson Memorial. 



Girls' Training School, 
of 1910 



Events 



The birds, without barn 
Or store-house are fed; 
From them let us learn 
To trust for our bread; 
His saints what is fitting 
Shall ne'er be denied, 
So long as 'tis written, 
"The Lord will provide." 



Newton. 



My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory 
by Christ Jesus. — St. Paul. 

I make a decree what ye shall do — for the building of this house 
of God ; that of the king's goods, — forthwith expenses be given to 
these men, that they be not hindered. And that which they have 
need of — let it be given them day by day without fail. — Darius. 

HE year 19 10 marks the close of Mrs. 
Farmer's labors, for she lived only until 
March 14, 191 1. It was a very strenuous 
year with her, and she often said to me 
when in a hard place of faith and testing, 
"Wilmoth, this has been the hardest year 
of my Christian life." She returned to 
her work at Liucheo after the long seige of nursing at 
Wucheo, depleted in strength more than she or others 
realized. But her enthusiastic and earnest desire to carry 
forward the work which she felt God had committed into 
her hands bore her on with untiring effort to do all that 
was in her power to make it a success and glorify God. 

As we have read her diary for the months of 19 10, we 
have noticed again and again how often she says at the 
close of the day that she was so tired. Little did she or we 
realize then that the evening of her glorious and faithful 




268 Ada Beeson Farmer 

life was drawing so near, and soon the sun would set and 
God's tired laborer would lie down to rest, to awake in 
the very presence chamber of Him whom she so devotedly 
loved and served. 

Mrs. Farmer was a talented woman, and used well what 
the Lord committed to her trust. The past years of her 
pioneer mission life, spent largely in the hot, damp, and in- 
convenient Chinese houses had brought to her mind decided 
convictions regarding the plans and arrangements of a mis- 
sion home and chapel, which she devoutly prayed that God 
would some day let her see. During the closing days of 
1909, she and others had with careful effort prepared plans 
of the residence and Sunday chapel for Liucheo, and her 
ideas dominated the whole plan of the building. The little 
details of the arrangement of the rooms for workers and 
work to the greatest possible advantage were most credi- 
tably thought out by her, and the nice new station building, 
not quite completed yet, is a worthy monument of her genius 
in this line. It also stands as a witness to the fact that God 
heard the earnest prayers of His child and honored the sim- 
ple faith which dared to trust Him for funds to build the 
house. 

By 1910, self-denial, economy and generous liberality to- 
ward the Lord's work had accumulated a sum sufficiently 
large to warrant the commencement of the Beeson Memorial 
Chapel, and no one was gladder than Mrs. Farmer as the 
contracts were let out for bricks, timber and other material. 
While realizing that there was not enough money on hand 
to complete the building, she never doubted but that God 
would fully complete what He had so signally shown to be 
His will. 

The other event of the year was the beginning of the 
school for training Bible-women and girls for Christian 
work. In this undertaking she had greater tests of faith 
and opposition than in anything else she ever attempted. At 
times when obstacles, seemingly insurmountable, confronted 
her, and we would beg her to let the schools go and give 
them up, she would calmly say, "No, I must be true to God 



Ada Beeson Farmer 269 

and the trust He has given me." Even upon her dying bed 
and far removed from Liucheo, the last days were spent 
in prayer for the little group which composed the school. 

Her diary for 19 10, as usual, begins with a group of 
Scripture verses. 

[January i.] My verses for the year, John xv.16, xiv.12. The 
Holy Spirit sealing the thought of bearing fruit that will remain, 
and "Whatsoever you ask, He may give it." Doing the "greater 
works." "Ask and / will do it." God, help me to get in and remain 
in the place where I can bear fruit and it shall remain, and realize 
it is my part to "ask," and Thine "to do." The Lord has done so 
much for me. I do not want to disappoint Him. 

[January 2.] Reading "Woman's Work," and prayer. A great 
burden of prayer seized me for perishing souls and a real revival. 
. . . God, grant it to us soon. 

[January 5.] I was sick all night though tried not to disturb Wil- 
moth. We could not understand why I should be ill. I did not feel 
like getting up to Bible-study. Mrs. Sherman led the woman's meet- 
ing. At prayer-meeting had to leave the service, severe dysentery. 

We see from the foregoing that January 5 marked the 
beginning of the disease which finally took her very life. 
The spells were intermittent, and at seasons of relief, which 
sometimes were quite prolonged, she felt she was entirely 
well. 

[January 6.] Still suffering awful pain; . . . worked on the 
course of study for schools. 

[January 7.] Still not in victory in body. Strange I can not 
touch God for healing. 

We give below extracts from one or two letters written 
to loved ones at home: 

My Precious Ones at Home: — I think I have gone a little 
over my time to write, but I have been exceedingly busy getting a 
report off and the plans ready to submit to the committee, which 
meets soon, besides, I have had a little attack of dysentary for sev- 
eral days and have not felt like doing full work. 

The property has been purchased and the money has to be put 
down next Monday then we will take possesion and start building. 
We already have several hundred pounds of lime on the place and 
the brick will soon be on hand. 

One of the teachers of the Girl's School has just been in to see 
me to borrow some books to study up for the opening of the school. 



270 Ada Beeson Farmer 

We have the house rented and it is being prepared. We will have 
desks made and be ready to begin after Chinese New Year, when 
all of the schools open in China. We believe God will send in 
those who will make real soul-winners, for that is what we are 
looking to Him for. We do not want to waste money and time 
on those who would never amount to anything. 

Mr. Farmer is as busy as a bee "talking price" for materials, 
for workmen, getting the deed ready for the property, and getting 
his schedule ready, and many other things that devolve upon the 
only man at a station. He takes his turn in preaching and receives 
all the men visitors that come, and we are glad to say they are 
not a few. 

Some of our best work is done in meeting those who come and 
witnessing to them. Mrs. Sherman is getting out among the women 
and having good opportunities, and there are some regular attend- 
ants at all the meetings, both men and women, and we are praying 
God to save them and many more and send a revival to us here 
and to all of our stations. Please join with us in this request. 

We have just had a letter from Brother Hess stating that Brother 
Oldfield would soon be here ready to help with the building, and 
gave some instructions regarding the foundation ; so now Mr. 
Farmer can begin as soon as the money is paid down, whether there 
is any one else here or not. We do so praise God for helping him 
to get the land. 

We had a very happy Christmas. I must close and look after 
the orange marmalade, etc. Love, and lots of it, for every one of 
you from both of us, 

Lovingly, His and yours for service, 

Ada. 

My Dear Mother Farmer: — I am having so many extra things 
to do these days that I haven't the time to do half I want to do. — 
I have never caught up with my writing since conference, and all 
the folks were sick so long. It hangs over me like a nightmare, and 
I will be glad when I get caught up. 

I am trying to "rub up" on my language; in fact, in teaching, it 
takes a new vocabulary and takes much study. But we praise God 
for the privilege of being here to represent our Saviour. We are 
looking to Him to save many precious souls here, yea, this year. 
Pray for us in our school-work, for there are many things we have 
to contend with that I need not speak of; but you can help us by 
prayer. The house is rented for the girls' school and we will get 
everything ready to open by Chinese New Year, when all schools 
properly open in China. 

[January 12.] Began Chinese study with Eo Iang Sien Seng. 
Much burdened for souls. 




1.5.4-7- Views of the cncompleted Beeson Memorial \t l.ir 

2. Laying the first bricks of Beeson Memorial. 

3. Digging the trenches of foi ndation of Beeson Memoriae. 
6. The old Chinese housi \i Liucheo. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 271 

[January 22.] Still undecided about plans for house. Mr. Old- 
field and I drew plans all day while Wilmoth attended to mate- 
rials, workmen, weighing, reckoning, etc. We all came together 
about the plans. 

[January 24.] We decided we could not build separately on 
the present property and the thing to do was to go ahead with a 
two-story building, residence above. 

[January 25.] Began foundation of the chapel and mission- 
house; two stories, praise God! It takes up the greater part of 
the front yard. Long we have prayed and looked for this day to 
come! God is so good to us. I want to be all He wills. 

[January 28.] Feeling very nervous and not very well; stomach 
still troubling me. 

[January 29.] The gardener's wife next door burned. 

[February 1.] Seven pupils registered their names for girls' school. 
Praise God for the earnest! God, work out Thy will for us. Send 
in Thy choice and save all that come. 

[February 2.] Gardener's wife buried this morning. My heart 
was so sad, but she was deaf and dumb, and we could not tell her 
of the love of Jesus. He knew I wanted to do it. — Letter from 

and a check which could be used as we pleased. Praise God! 

I had asked for money in this mail as an earnest for building chapel. 

[February 5.] I am very tired, have not sat down to-day except 
to eat. , 

The number of foreign missionaries on the station were 
six, and a happier and more congenial crowd could hardly 
be found; mutually thoughtful, helpful, and a blessing to 
each other. Happily, Mrs. Farmer was relieved of the re- 
sponsibility of the women's work on the station; but being 
housekeeper for all, and with her school duties, she had her 
hands full and could have written the above sentence about 
being tired at the close of many a day. It was useless to 
remonstrate with her, for she would laugh heartily and keep 
working as long as she had any strength. 

Below we give extracts from a letter written home about 
this time : 

They are putting down the foundation on the sides where they 
have been able to dig to hard soil. Four feet was enough on 
two sides, but on one corner or two, it is nearer twelve feet. Of 
course this makes the cost so much more, for it means more labor 



272 Ada Beeson Farmer 

to dig the trench and more labor and material to fill it up. We 
hope to get the foundation down before the Chinese New Year. 

Our plans have been altered somewhat; but our living-rooms are 
practically the same as we had first planned. We find everything 
is more expensive than had been calculated on and we have not enough 
to build with the plans changed ; but we believe God would have 
us go ahead and trust Him. We trust He will send the money 
in so that we will not have to stop the building, but if He can afford 
for us to stop, we can. Please stand with us in faith and prayer 
for this. 

We are a happy family here in this small, crowded house. The 
spring and early summer will be the hard time for those of us who 
are upstairs, and we will have to come down; and where? I am 
waiting until I have to answer that question. 

If some people in the home land, who are opposed to putting 
their money in bricks and mortar for the missionaries saw where 
they had to sometimes live, they would change their minds. Such 
people usually live in good houses themselves; but alas, poor people, 
they do not know! This place is like a beehive these days; so many 
things on hand. 

Chinese New Year was rapidly drawing near and Mrs. 
Farmer spent much time preparing little gifts for the Chi- 
nese workers, friends and servants in the house. The mag- 
istrate in the city, (not the one formerly mentioned), had 
shown us no little courtesy at the time we purchased the 
lot adjoining the mission property, and he, accordingly, was 
remembered with a tray of cake and nice things. 

[February 8.] Helped the cook in the kitchen. I made sponge 
cakes and baked in small pans to give teacher and R'f Ku New 
Year's. I then mixed up two cakes and prepared tray for the 
official. 

[February 9.] Early prayer and burden for souls. Prepared trays 
to give the teacher, Mr. Eo Iang, Ri Ku, Mrs. Wang, the preacher, 
and old lady who came with Miss Landis. How I love to give; 
but have to pray God for wisdom to know how, so as not to spoil 
them. Mrs. Sherman said she received five dollars to be put toward 
the chapel. Praise God, I am at rest about it. 

February tenth was Chinese New Year, and as usual 
all work had to be stopped and the time spent in receiving 
and paying New Year calls. By no means a small item 
of Chinese New Year, is the feasting, which on most occa- 
sions Mrs. Farmer enjoyed, but this year, on account of 



Ada Beeson Farmer 273 

her weak condition it was a little distasteful, and yet she 
was so careful lest she offend any of the Chinese who were 
gracious enough to invite her to a dinner. She has expressed 
her feelings in a letter we give below: 

My Dear Mother Farmer: — You should be here these days 
when we are at a Chinese feast every day or two. They have course 
after course of meats and no bread or rice. Near the last, the rice 
is brought in. I mince along at the first, for I am a bread-eater, 
and when the rice comes I eat some to make up for all the meat I 
have eaten before. I am sure you would have an awful time trying 
to eat some of it. But we have learned to like it and get along 
nicely, though some dishes I can not like. I will truly be glad 
when it is all over and we get down to regular foreign meals. One 
thing that makes it hard is that the feast comes anywhere from 
three to five p. m., and of course, we can have only a lunch for 
dinner. 

Three crowds of women, young ladies and girls came in to-day. 
We first passed them Chinese candies and watermelon seed ; chatted 
and talked the gospel wherever we had an opportunity. We sing 
to them and explain the hymn first, and in that way preach a 
little sermon. 

[February 19.] Home mail brought twenty dollars for chapel, 
and twenty dollars for Ri Ku's support. Praise God ! 

[February 20.] Wilmoth and I read "George Miiller," and 
prayed together for money for building. Lord, I believe Thou wilt 
send it. Read some more in Miiller. The Lord has strengthened 
my faith through it to take all we need from His never-failing hand. 

[February 22.] Praise God, had good night's rest and felt so 
much better in body. 

[February 25.] Up early, not feeling quite so well. Yesterday's 
Chinese meal not good for me; — opened school to-day; six pupils 
came. Opened earlier than Chinese schools, so some are not through 
visiting. Classified, and they studying. Lord, I trust you to bring 
in the ones you will and save souls. Set Thy seal upon it by saving 
some this year. Home mail, check for five dollars gold for chapel. 
Praise God, He is answering prayer and supplying our need ! Have 
money enough to go ahead for a time. Mrs. Sherman gave thirty 
dollars Mexican more, Praise God! "He knows, He loves, He 
cares." 

The beginning of a school in a new city such as Mrs. 
Farmer proposed would necessarily have many discouraging 
features about it. While the ultimate aim was to train 
women and young ladies for Christian work, yet at the in- 



274 Ada Beeson Farmer 

ception it had to be small and start with day-pupils, most of 
them from heathen homes. It has been found an excellent 
plan to receive these pupils, because as they are brought 
under Christian teaching and influence many become Chris- 
tians. It was expected that all the other stations of the 
Mandarin district would also send such pupils as expressed 
and showed a desire to prepare for the Lord's work. 

[February 26.] Not feeling very well; and took cold last night 
from wind blowing in on my head. One mother came to school to 
say her husband was very angry and would not let their daughter 
"study books;" she cried, and I came near it. Poor down-trodden 
girls and women of China! When shall deliverance come? I felt 
almost discouraged, wept before the Lord with heavy heart and asked 
for a fresh token of His will for the school, and when I looked up 
"Rest in the Lord" and Babcock's poem on that came to sight. Praise 
God for it — I will rest in Him. 

Rest in the Lord, my soul; 
Commit to Him thy way. 
What to thy sight seems dark as night, 
To Him is bright as day. 

Rest in the Lord, my soul; 
He planned for thee thy life, 
Brings fruit from rain, brings good from pain, 
And peace and joy from strife. 

Rest in the Lord, my soul ; 
This fretting weakens thee. 
Why not be still? Accept His will; 
Thou shalt His glory see. 

[February 27.] The pupils came to church and a good crowd was 
here. Mrs. Sherman spoke to the women after Mr. Sie had finished, 
and then I spoke for a time. Had a good time with the Lord. 
He spoke to me through His word and then a poem, "He Must In- 
crease." Lord, I am determined to decrease and let Thee increase 
in me. 

Mrs. Farmer did not fully know her own true condition 
of health at this time and her faith in God for healing was 
so strong, that she did not for one moment let the occasional 
attacks of dysentery cause her any alarm. Fearing lest her 
husband should be too much alarmed about her, it was some 



Ada Beeson Farmer 275 

time after the first serious symptoms of the disease appeared 
that she even told him and the others of the station. In a 
general letter home, dated March the seventh, she says : 

My Precious Ones at Home : — It has been some time now since 
I have written my general letter, but have been so very busy it 
seems I could not. At any rate, I let the time slip without realizing 
it, and now I am up early to get it off in to-day's mail. 

The foundation is completed at last on the new building, and 
it cost at least twice as much as it should have on account of having 
to dig so deep on two sides to get to solid earth. Our lot having 
been filled in some time in the past. But, "Every bitter has its 
sweet." We have the highest location in the city, and, though the 
waters rise high in the river that almost surrounds the city, we 
stand high and dry above it all. We have money for all materials 
or practically so, but less than two hundred dollars to pay the work- 
men, as we go. Still, our eyes are upon Him and we are trusting 
Him to send it in so that we will not have to stop work, if it is 
His highest will. Please stand with us in prayer and faith for this. 
Phil, iv.19. 

We are beginning to have spring weather now, at least the birds 
are singing in (he trees all around and the peach and plum trees 
are blooming. Only a few days of warm weather bring them all out. 
The orange and grape-fruit trees are in bud and it will not be long 
before the place will be full of fragrance. 

The girls' school has opened and we are getting along as well 
as possible under the circumstances. The Chinese are not through 
visiting, as they take one whole month, therefore some of the enrolled 
pupils are waiting till the first or the second Chinese month. The 
work is new and not free from difficulties, so pray for us that the 
Lord will send in more pupils and save the unsaved. 

Good opportunities in the daily street chapel for men, also at Sun- 
day chapel for both men and women, and at the Wednesday meeting. 
The ladies have all the open doors they can enter, and we long to 
see a season of real conviction upon these people and souls being 
really born into the kingdom. It means so much more for them to 
come out for Christ here that it takes an awful conviction of the 
Spirit before they are willing to suffer it. There is a young man, 
married and has one child, while he believes the truth and wants 
to come out, yet says his father won't let him. You say, "He is 
a man of his own." From one point of view, he is, but from a 
Chinese point of view, he is not so long as his father lives. So 
there he stands at the door and nothing but the mighty power of 
God will bring him in. Pray for him, and many more like him. 

Father, you should see the sawmill (?) we have in our yard. 
The men, two to a saw, stand and saw out planks all day long, a 
crude, slow way; but we are in China and have to be patient and 



276 Ada Beeson Farmer 

see them go slowly, and besides, waste much of the lumber. It is 
no easy job to build in China unless you leave them to do as they 
please and waste one-third of your wood, which thing we are not 
willing to do. First, they do not know how to build our way, and 
next, their way will not do for some things; but watch, pray and 
be patient and long-suffering is the only thing. 

I will write about the garden next time. All well and happy 
in Him in the work. Praise God, He counts me worthy to come. 
Love and prayers for all from us both. 

Yours lovingly, 

Ada B. Farmer. 

[March 6.] Praise God for a quiet Sunday after such a busy 
week. "The steps that are born in prayer, although they may after- 
wards be severely tested, will ultimately be established and con- 
firmed to the glory of God and blessing of the world." 

[March 7.] "Be not dismayed, for I am Thy God," was made 
a blessing to me this morning. One new pupil came and two reg- 
istered. Home mail, seventy-five dollars, which is for house. Praise 
God, He is mindful of us. 

[March 20.] Awoke at five a. m. usual time, and with a burden 
for souls and Chinese workers. All I am, have, expect to be and have, 
are in His keeping. Lord, make of me what Thou canst; use me 
to win souls. 

[March 22.] Twenty dollars from dear Berta for the building 
and also have five dollars which can be used for it too. Praise God! 

[Easter Sunday, March 27.] Awoke at five a. m. and heard the 
birds singing. My heart was full of praise to God for what this 
day means to me. A risen, living Christ; and our hope. Oh, that 
many of these poor souls only knew! Read on Resurrection. Mr. 
Liang came for us to pray for him and his wife. He not well, and 
wife in labor for over two days and could not give birth to child. 
He voluntarily said God was punishing him for not coming out and 
following Jesus. We ladies went off and prayed while Mr. Farmer 
talked to him. He said he was going to follow Jesus from now on. 
Lord, help. I was greatly burdened for his wife from eleven till 
eleven forty-five, then the burden left. Later learned child was born 
at eleven thirty and both doing well. Praise to our God! Lord, 
make them see it was Thee. Brother Oldfield preached. I could not 
listen for praying for Mrs. Liang. His aunt came later and we had a 
praise meeting. 

I am sorry that I have to say that the above-mentioned 
family, although several of them have declared most em- 
phatically their belief in Christianity, have heard and studied 
the Bible for some time and are so friendly toward the mis- 



Ada Beeson Farmer 277 

sionaries, yet, on account of their high social position in the 
city and fear of persecution, have not openly avowed Christ. 
How true it is of human nature, that in trouble, as was the 
young man above mentioned, it will fly for help and make 
all kinds of promises, but when the danger is passed forget 
the God that blessed and gave deliverance ! God, speed the 
day when it will not be such a stigma of disgrace in China 
to become a Christian. 

[March 30.] Counted up money. Enough on hand for materials 
contracted for and labor the balance of this week, and probably, 
Monday. If God does not meet us we will have to stop. His will 
be done; but we want His glory shown forth. Stone-mason pieced a 
stone and brought it for good. These people will cheat where we 
never think of. How they need Christ! 

The incident of the stone-mason mentioned above was 
as ludicrous as bold. In cutting one of the stone ledges 
for the windows he accidently broke off about one-half 
a foot of stone and in order to obviate furnishing another 
ledge he actually used Chinese putty and attempted to glue 
back the broken piece, notwithstanding it was so heavy. He 
also enlisted his stone-cutters into the trick and they tried 
to place the stone in position before we saw it; but fortu- 
nately, we did see it and rejected it, much to the chagrin 
and discomfiture of the crestfallen stone-mason. This is 
one of the many instances of like nature which occurred 
during those days of buying building material and erecting 
the chapel. I am sure that every missionary to China who 
reads this book and has ever had any building to do there 
will bear witness to the fact that, of all the hard and trying 
work they ever did, building a house in China was the most 
difficult. 

[April 2.] Home mail; seven dollars from an unexpected source; 
can use it for chapel. 

In a letter written to her father, dated April 8, she says: 

The school is running on very nicely, though we are not exempt 
from difficulties and trials. The Evil One is not dead; but goes 
about as a roaring lion. Praise God, he is a conquered foe by our 
King in whose name and strength we go ahead. 



278 Ada Beeson Farmer 

While the pupils are learning the Chinese characters, arithmetic, 
geography, physiology, etc., they are learning the gospel, and as I 
explain to them each day, and as the Chinese teacher teaches, we 
pray God to plant it so deep down in their hearts that they can never 
get away from it, and will yield to Him and be saved. 

I wish I had half, yea, one-third as good memory as they have, 
but would want my powers of thinking as well. While they can 
and do, memorize whole books at a time, if we do not watch, ex- 
plain again and again, and have them tell us the meaning several 
times, they may be able to recite it and know nothing of what they 
say. You may wonder how this can be, but it is done all over 
China. Pray that these pupils may be saved. 

The building is progressing slowly on account of rainy weather 
for the past two weeks; but it is beginning to show up, as all the 
window frames on the first floor are in and the wall going up be- 
tween. It is costing much more than we first thought, but we 
are doing it as cheaply as we can to build substantially, which we 
feel we should do, and not have to rebuild. 

We are still believing God to supply the balance of the money 
for the building. He has supplied our needs so far. All praise to 
Him! We are almost into the spring festivities when several of the 
idols are to be carried out through the city and worshiped at each 
door. It is also time for the people to worship at the graves of 
their ancestors. Blind, blind, blind, China! If they only knew we 
were bringing to them the True Light! 

[April 8.] Learned that the lumber bought was not enough, but 
God gave me, Ezra vi:8-9, and Mr. Simpson's comment on it. I 
stand on His promises and am at rest. 

[Saturday, April 16.] This week things went on about as usual, 
just enough money to keep the men at work for the week, the tar 
and extra stones. We prayed much Tuesday, April 12. Home mail 
and no money and I was tempted ; but looked up and said : "I will 
trust God, though nothing comes." This day at noon some mail 
from home land that had gone astray reached us with one hundred 
and ten dollars gold for the house, and brother Hinkey sent thirty 
dollars Mexican. Praise God! We had a praise meeting. Felt 
like shouting, for we knew men would have to be dismissed to-day 
if nothing came. God's clock is never behind time, praise His dear 
name! 

[April 22.] Had such a good talk with Eo Iang Sien Seng on 
ancestral worship and Jesus as the only Savior. Lord, save this man. 

[April 24.] Finished reading "Humility," by Murray. Lord, 
work into me your humility. I do want to be like my Lord and 
please Him. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 279 

[May 1 to 7.] All week we knew the money was low and would 
have to stop work if God did not have money here to go on. Found 
more bricks and lumber were needed ; but we were restful and looking 
up. On May 7, home mail came bringing father's one hundred dol- 
lars that we had been counting for some time; also ten dollars more 
from him; Julia, twenty-five dollars; Mrs. Shirtzer, fifteen dollars; 
the latter we did not remember of ever meeting, but she said she 
met us at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Praise to our God for once more 
supplying our need! 

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, 
Just to take Him at His word. 

Mrs. Farmer's diary has few entries for the next two or 
three months; but we have a number of letters written 
to people at home and they serve to give us all the informa- 
tion about this period. 

Her physical condition continued to be much the same 
as in the earlier part of the year; that is, a spell now and 
then of dysentery followed by a season of strength and im- 
provement; and she believed so firmly that God would heal 
her completely, (although there is a remark now and then 
in which she states that she does not understand why she is 
not speedily delivered as in former cases of illness) , that she 
would not listen to anything but the continuance of her work, 
feeling that she honored God most by so doing. 

We give below a letter dated May 19, 19 10: 

"My Dear Ones at Home: — You will be anxious to hear fur- 
ther word from me since the last was that I was not at all well. 
I did have a rather hard test of it. I have had indigestion and slight 
bowel trouble since some time in January; but was able to go on 
about my work and had little loss of flesh for some time; but a 
little over a month ago I was somewhat worse, then grew better, 
but afterwards worse, and then a very hot spell came on and I was 
much worse; not able to eat, and lost flesh and strength until I was 
down. 

The building is going right up. They are now putting the tim- 
bers up for the roof. The brick work is done on the sides of the 
house and the ends will be completed this week if it does not rain, 
or something else comes to hinder. They have been hindered one 
and one-half days already this week on account of rain ; but it was 
much needed, (we were threatened with famine), and we were 
glad to stop the building for rain. It has been blessed how God 
has sent most of the rain during the night and we have had so little 



280 Ada Beeson Farmer 

hindrance from it. I praise God when I look out on the building 
and realize that we did not have money to lay the foundation when 
we started and now it is ready for the roof; and God has sent it 
in and we have not had to stop once nor lack any material. We 
never have much ahead, and four times we have come down to 
almost the last cent; but He would have it here just in time. 
Praise God! Surely if He will hear us for the money to build this 
house He will hear us for precious souls, needed workers, etc., that 
are such burdens on our hearts. 

We appreciate all you have done in sending money and in prayer 
for this work. We will have a good chapel and comfortable place 
to live and carry on God's work here. Have had to be away from 
the school for nearly two weeks now, and it has seemed so strange, 
as it is the first time that I have been laid aside from my work 
before, more than one day at the time. I could have attended to 
my work most of the time had the school been in the compound, but 
it was too hot and far to walk over. 

We will leave here for conference the first week in July and 
after the first Sunday, so as to get to Wucheo a few days before 
conference. We do not know as yet where we will take our vaca- 
tion, but Mr. Farmer says I will have to go where I can board and 
have full rest, as I have had six to look after all the year, and then, 
not been well. I am not making any protest and will be glad for a 
complete rest. It would be nice to have the house ready to move 
into when we return; but I know Mr. Farmer and Brother Oldfield 
will need a rest, too, and they had better rest and finish the house 
this fall. 

In a letter to her brother and sister, she says: 

Well, God still lives and His promises are ours if we claim them. 
If we are living wholly for Him He will see us through. "Seek 
ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these 
things shall be added unto you," is just as true to-day. Phil. iv:i9, 
is also for us. Praise Him! 

I am so much better; but do not seem to gain much flesh and 
not my strength as I would love to. Still my strength is enough to 
see after the school and housework. 

The hot weather approaching only made matters worse; 
for all who were living in the lofts could not do so any 
longer and it became a problem how to place beds for six 
foreign missionaries and four Chinese so that each might 
have privacy and at the same time get air and rest. It was 
very inconvenient to have to make beds down in the evening 
in the Chinese reception-room, study, etc., and then take 
them up next morning so as to have a place to live during 



■■ ' ■■■■■:■ : '- * 

— > J 




■ 




i. Eo [ang Sikn Seng, Mrs. Farmer's Chinese Teacher. 

j. Some Mohammedan enquirers at Liucheo. 

3. Christians \t Liucheo. 

4. The Girls' School at Liucheo. 



_ 



Ada Beeson Farmer 281 

the day. Mrs. Farmer, notwithstanding her weak condition, 
cheerfully submitted to all the trouble it meant to her while 
she looked forward with joyous anticipation to the comple- 
tion of the new building in which she had planned a large 
and comfortable room for herself where she could rest, 
sleep, and pray undisturbed. 

One night her cot was moved out under the workmen's 
shed, but placed on some boards which formed a loft of 
the shed where the workmen kept their tools. In writing 
of it, she says : 

We have had some hot weather and Wilmoth and I went out 
under the workmen's shed to sleep one night and a thief came in 
and was right under my bed when Wilmoth yelled at him and 
awoke me. I first thought Wilmoth was having a "nightmare," 
but soon found my mistake. You should have seen that fellow run ! 

The building is looking fine. Up ready to put the roof on except 
the gable ends. That will take only a few more days and then they 
start on the roof. Praise God, we have not had to stop work for 
lack of money or for labor so far, and we did not have enough to 
put down the foundation! All praise to Him! Some has come 
from people we did not know and did not remember of having 
met, and some from those we did know; but never expected money 
from. It has been blessed, for four times we have come right down 
to near the last cent, but money would be here by the time we 
needed it. 

As annual conference was drawing near all the foreign 
workers left Liucheo for Wucheo the first week in July. All 
noticed Mrs. Farmer's emaciated and weak condition and 
felt solicitous in her behalf. She was elected on the confer- 
ence committee, which has most of the important business 
to prepare and present to the whole body of conference; 
but on account of her poor health she felt the strain 
would be too much for her and declined the honor with 
thanks. 

She was a good parliamentarian, and her clear discrimi- 
nating mind and self-possesion made her as much at home 
on the conference floor as at the privacy of her own fireside. 
Many times when questions or hard problems of mission 
work were being wrestled with we have seen her rise to her 
feet and offer a suggestion which immediately solved the 
difficulty. 



282 Ada Beeson Farmer 

We give below her last report for her work during the 
conference year of 1910. It is very characteristic of her, 
being minute and detailed, prolixity being almost a fault 
with her. 

Conference Report for the Year 19 10. 

I remained in the home while Mr. Farmer accompanied Mr. Funk 
to the coast, expecting to leave for our work immediately on his 
return ; but the sick ones had not been delivered and Miss Lewis 
was taken with typhoid fever, therefore, we were asked to remain 
and help nurse the sick ones, which we gladly did. Those days of 
prayer and watching were full of lessons and blessing to us who 
nursed, as well as those who were ill. Miss Lewis having come 
out with us, the Enemy tested me sorely at times regarding her by 
saying: "Many told you she was not strong and could not stand the 
climate and she is going to die and would not have come if you had 
not strongly advised her to come now." I got on my face before God 
and was assured He had sent her here, and that she was in His 
will. The word came regarding her healing: "We are more than 
conquerors through Him that loved us." Other tests came and she 
seemed to be going in spite of the word from God ; but every time 
He spoke these words to my heart: "Fear not, only believe." Praise 
God for the privilege of standing with them all until the victory 
came! 

October 29, Mr. Farmer left for Liucheo to buy the adjoining 
property which was necessary before the building could be begun. 
I remained here to assist in the nursing; but November 30, they 
were well enough to be left, and I started for my station, Mr. 
Kistler accompanying me. Mr. Farmer met us at Kiangk'eo, and 
Mrs. Sherman joined us at Kweip'ing. We reached Liucheo De- 
cember 9, praising God that we were at last at our work. Several 
days were spent in getting things straight. The remainder of 
our goods and Mrs. Sherman's reached there three days before 
Christmas, and there was another time of unpacking and getting 
things straight. We had a good Christmas service and it took our 
minds back to the first Christmas which was ever celebrated in this 
heathen city and we praised God that the gospel light had been in 
here for four years. Much of my time till Chinese New Year was 
spent in renting a house for the girls' school and in study and prepar- 
ation for school-work, also plans for the building. 

January 19, Brother Oldfield arrived from his trip to Kweicheo, 
and we gave him a hearty welcome for reasons more than one. He 
was appointed to assist in the building, and the property was already 
purchased and bricks, tiles, lime and work contracted for, and 
ready for building. January twenty-fifth the digging of the founda- 
was begun. We praised God that we were about to realize the 



Ada Beeson Farmer 283 

answer of our prayers for six long years ! As the digging progressed, 
the hard soil seemed further away until about one-half of the foun- 
dation was ten or twelve feet deep; and, of course, this took more 
money. All money was used before the foundation was done and 
we could not look to the mission for help, as we knew that it would 
take all that was in the treasury to build the P'ingloh station; there- 
fore, we had no place to look but up. But praise God, that way is 
always open ! 

We stood together as one in prayer and faith and God answered. 
Many times we were down to the last cent; but God had the money 
there before we had real need. Once, when funds were low, I 
was waiting upon God for money for the building and my attention 
was drawn to Ezra vi:8-o,: "I make a decree that ye shall do. . . . 
ior the building of this house of God ; that of the king's goods . . . 
forthwith expenses be given to these men, that they be not hindered. 
And that which they have need of . . . let it be given them day by 
day without fail," and the Spirit made it real to my heart. Many 
times afterward, I was brought to stand on that promise. 

One instance I especially want to mention. We knew we had 
barely enough to pay the workmen at the end of the week and if 
God did not send in we would have to discontinue the work. On 
Tuesday the home mail came and no money. I was tempted to feel 
anxious when the above verse was brought to my mind. I looked 
up and said : "I will trust, Lord, money or no money." The days 
went on and no money came, until Saturday noon, when I returned 
from school, Mr. Farmer, in fact all of them, ran to tell me that a 
check had been received which had gone astray and together with it 
one from two of our fellow-workers here on the field ; plenty to 
pay the workmen and to get the needed lumber. It is needless to say 
that we had a praise meeting before we had any dinner. 

God has shown His constant watch-care and blessing by sending 
money from people we least expected, or from those we did not know 
at all. Therefore, the Liucheo house is a memorial of God's good- 
ness in answer to prayer and faith, from foundation to roof, which is 
now on. All praise to Him! We believe He will send in the needed 
amount to complete it. Please stand with us. 

I took the children's meeting for Mrs. Sherman and made some 
calls, especially New Year calls, until the school was opened, which 
was the sixteenth of the Chinese first month. We enrolled about 
thirty and averaged about fifteen or more. LTen Ri Ku was ap- 
pointed by the committee as one of the teachers and it was granted 
me to employ an inquirer at Liucheo. The latter proved to be un- 
true as a Christian and unfit for the work, therefore I had to dismiss 
her after the first month. She of course tried to take the pupils 
with her but failed, praise God ! I then reorganized the work so 
that Ri Ku and myself were enabled to do justice to all by each 
taking a little more. She taught all the Chinese books, writing, 



284 Ada Beeson Farmer 

and the characters in John; I taught the Bible, "Peep 
of Day," arithmetic, geography, physiology, physical culture, and 
needle work. The pupils advanced rapidly and made high grades 
with the exception of three first grade pupils, who failed in their 
examinations in two studies. The average of most of them was 
above ninety, and one or two pupils had an average of ninety-eight. 

She then describes the curriculum and schedule of the 
school which we omit. 

We prayed and longed for a real revival among them, though they 
were all heathen, and some, in fact most of them, knew nothing of 
the gospel ; but we did not see what we hoped for. Still we praise 
God for how He did work in the hearts of two of the girls. One 
is a girl about twelve years old, who is very quiet. I had not realized 
that she had grasped so much, until one day her mother came to 
the chapel to the Sunday service, because this daughter had looked 
after the door for her to permit her to come to hear the gospel. 
While there, she told me how her daughter prayed to Jesus to help 
her learn her lessons and in a few days later she testified to how 
Jesus, in answer to her prayer, had healed her toothache. 

The other is the one Mrs. Sherman referred to in her report. 
She first came with her mother to the chapel each Wednesday and 
Sunday, and studied the catechism, Mrs. Sherman and Miss Landis 
helping her all the day, except during the meetings, and was a really 
earnest inquirer, when her mother was willing for her to enter the 
school. She reminded me of a sponge taking in the truth ; and as 
she learned, she would tell it to her mother at home. She seems to 
have a clear knowledge of the plan of salvation. The enemy does 
not care so much about them coming to school and studying; but 
when they step out for God the persecution begins; so please pray 
that these may be kept through it. She says she wants to be released 
from her engagement to a heathen man, (and her mother has 
the power to do this), and to do the Lord's work. She is very 
bright and would make a fine teacher some day. 

We praise God for the sweet fellowship in the work and home- 
life. We have enjoyed the Saturday evening readings, the morning 
Bible-study, Friday evening, and "all days of prayer," when at times 
there was such a burden and agony of soul for the lost and a real 
revival at Liucheo and all over our work. I am sorry I could do so 
little for others this spring; but I praise God for what He made 
others to me in their thoughtfulness, many times denying themselves 
of a good place of rest, or study, or morning quiet hour, that I 
might have more sleep. God will reward. Why this delay of per- 
fect manifestation of healing I do not know; but I know I have 
been learning lessons through it all for which I praise Him. Psalm 



Ada Beeson Farmer 285 

xxxvii has meant more to me than I can tell, and the thought that 
"He must increase but I must decrease," has been made a blessing 
and is the desire of my heart. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Ada B. Farmer. 

Each summer, at vacation time, it was always Mrs. Far- 
mer's great pleasure to plan to take some of the unmarried 
members of the mission who had no one to look after them, 
to live in her home, thus relieving them of renting a house 
and keeping bachelors' quarters. While it was a mutual 
pleasure to all concerned, yet after a hard year's work it 
often meant little rest for the housekeeper. We can see her 
now when told she must not, with a reproachful twinkle in 
her eye, look up and say, "Oh I feel so selfish to go off and 
board and leave those young people to keep house." 

But the summer of 19 10 found the willing and unselfish 
hands too tired to serve, and the feet, that for years had 
so gladly ran errands for others, dragged too heavily for 
lack of strength and she was glad to be relieved of all re- 
sponsibility that she might have time for rest, prayer, and 
communion with her Lord. Accordingly, board for the 
month of August was engaged at the American Board Mis- 
sion in Hongkong, where on the mountainside a nice, cool 
room was obtained. She spent most of the month in bed; 
not that she was not able to sit up, but owing to the nature 
of her disease, felt the quieter she kept, the better it would 
be for her. 

At the close of the month she was little better; but with 
unshaken confidence and faith that God would spare her 
longer for His work. We give an extract or two from 
some of her letters at this time. 

My Dear Berta: — Many thanks for the "College Annual." 
We have enjoyed it, yet I haven't had time and strength to get 
through it carefully. It did me lots of good to see it was dedicated 
to father. He deserves it. I feel so many have so much to say 
about us who are young and out in the work more actively, but 
I feel all credit should be given to our dear mother, father, and 
God. Besides that, father's life, so quiet, but so victorious and 
smooth, ever stands before me leading me on higher. He is a grand 
man, if I do say so, and he is my father. Wilmoth teases me because 
I think he is so good and great; but so often he comes to me and 



286 Ada Beeson Farmer 

says: "Ada, I do not know a better and grander old man than 
Father Beeson." I am so thankful that he has been so well. It 
would be good if God saw fit to spare him until we come home 
again, but God's will is best and there I hold him with all else. 

Poor , I fear for her. We can not fail to walk in the 

light and hope to stand. You be true to God and all the light He 
gives at all cost. I praise God for what He is to me. 

Another to Mrs. John E. Smith, of Indianapolis. 

It is so hard for me to have to give up and be laid aside; but I 
know God has a purpose in the delay and I want to learn all He wills 
to teach. "The trial of your faith is more precious than gold." 
He has been so preciously near and real to me most of the time. At 
first it was a hard fight, and often awful darkness, but I realized 
the battle had been fought and won, and my part was to praise, and, 
since that time, He has been so real to me and my heart so restful. 

Mrs. Farmer's faith, ever since she had seen the truth of 
Divine healing in the Bible, had been steadfast and immov- 
able in Christ, who is "The same yesterday, and to-day, and 
forever" as the physician of her bodily sickness as well as 
the physician of the diseases of her soul. In the past, she 
had been healed again and again by trusting Him and 
standing upon such promises as James v. 14, etc., and had 
won glorious victories in His name; she had prayed with 
many Chinese and foreigners who had been healed, and now 
why was it that God, while richly blessing her in everything 
else and answering at this very time many other prayers, 
denied her this prayer for her own healing? 

This was the question that had at times caused her the 
darkness she speaks of in the letter above. 

At the close of August she was no better, though not 
sick in bed, and as some of the missionaries were remaining 
at Ch'angcheo for the month of September and invited her 
to spend the time with them, it was arranged for her to 
move over to the island, while we returned to Liucheo with 
some important building materials in order to have the 
floor of the new building put in so that we might move out 
of the cramped quarters as soon as possible. Her sweet 
submission to the circumstances, which she considered her 
Father's will, is shown in the following extract from one 
of her letters: 



Ada Beeson Farmer 287 

This is the first time I have been left behind when the time came 
to go to work, because I was not able myself to go; but I am not 
complaining. He has been so good to me heretofore in letting 
me go ahead with the work. Now He is good to me as I have to wait. 
As I am set aside for a time, I trust He is only getting me ready for 
better and more service for Him and to even use me while here. 
It is not the most active place that counts most for God and eternity 
every time. Joseph's waiting days meant more than all others. 
Paul had three years in Arabia, and his days in prison were some- 
times the most fruitful. John, while set aside on the isle of Patmos, 
received the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Oh, I do want to be true 
to Him here, open to His faintest whisper, so I may get what He 
has for me. May it be my transfiguration to fit me better to go into 
the valley of great darkness of sin and sorrow. My prayer is: 
''Feed me, Lord, that I may feed," "Teach me, Lord, that I may 
teach." Surely, as our work is heavier and our workers fewer on 
our station this year, we need to be multiplied in some way. Pray 
God to do this in His way. 

I have much time with the word. Am also reading "Holy Liv- 
ing," by Jeremy Taylor, and "The Life of Frances Ridley Haver- 
gal," and they both have been made, I trust, a blessing to me. I 
have often thought I can't be brilliant and accomplished as she; but 
by His grace I can be as good and holy as Frances Ridley Havergal 
was. 

In a letter to her father she speaks further of the time 
spent upon the island. 

We are having a good quiet time on the "Long Island" where 
we hear the murmur of the sea and howling of the wind at times. 
One night we saw a complete bow (like a rainbow), of light in the 
heavens. An ex-sailor said the sailors call it a moon-bow. I never 
saw one before; but it was beautiful. I thought how sure are the 
promises of God, and how careful He is to remind us of them, even 
to giving us the bow in the night time! We have beautiful rain- 
bows, sunsets and sunrises, but I am on the wrong side of the house 
to see them. The scenery is grand here, so restful — all speaks of our 
mighty God. I am sure you would enjoy it; — the sea breezes are 
fine. 

She spent the month of September in Ch'angcheo and 
while at the coast bought a lot of drawn work and embroid- 
ered linen which was sent to America to be sold so as to real- 
ize something more for the mission building in Liucheo. Nor 
did she forget the loved ones at home, for she also sent 
Christmas presents to the different ones at this time. 



288 Ada Beeson Farmer 

As she was housekeeper at Liucheo, naturally she had to 
prepare more household utensils, furniture, etc., than those 
of the boarding missionaries; so while in Hongkong she 
bought many things she had been needing for a long time; 
but had been doing without because she never had a fit 
place in which to live and use them. 

Some one in the home land had given her special money 
to be used toward furnishing the new mission house, so she 
carefully planned to buy those things she really needed most. 
She had suffered from all the smoke and inconvenience of 
Chinese cook stoves the past years, and so had ordered a 
nice, foreign cooking stove, untensils, etc., some new mat- 
ting and chairs needed. In fact, it was very much like the 
dear old happy days that preceded her marriage, when 
plans for the first housekeeping were made and discussed. 

The new house she had planned most minutely, even to 
where different articles of furniture were to be placed and 
certain pictures hung. Little pieces of bric-a-brac, pictures 
and other articles, many the gifts of loved ones at home, 
had been carefully treasured in trunks and boxes and saved 
for the momentous occasion when she could move into the 
new home and really live comfortably and healthfully. 

She looked forward to the time when she would see the 
confirmation and fruition of all her faith, prayers, hopes 
and plans of years for a well-equipped mission station. But 
better than all of earth's dwellings she had "A building of 
God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the 
heavens." How little did she and others then realize how 
near the threshold of that glorious mansion which Christ 
had prepared for her she was drawing, and how soon she 
would be in the presence of Him whom she loved. 



THOU HIDDEN SOURCE OF CALM REPOSE 

Thou hidden source of calm repose, 

Thou all-sufficient Love divine, 
My help and refuge from my foes, 

Secure I am, if Thou art mine; 
And lo! from sin, and grief, and shame, 

I hide me, Jesus, in Thy name. 

Thy mighty name salvation is, 

And keeps my happy soul above; 
Comfort it brings, and pow'r, and peace, 

And joy, and everlasting love ; 
To me, with Thy dear name, are giv'n 

Pardon, and holiness, and heaven. 

Jesus, my all in all Thou art, 

My rest in toil, my ease in pain, 
The medicine of my broken heart, 

In war, my peace, in loss, my gain, 
My smile beneath the tyrant's frown, 

In shame, my glory and my crown. 

In want my plentiful supply, 

In weakness, my almighty pow'r, 
In bonds, my perfect liberty, 

My light in Satan's darkest hour, 
In grief, my joy unspeakable, 

My life in death, my all in all. 

Charles Wesley. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

Liucheo Once More. Last Days and Hours 






God calls our loved ones, but we lose not wholly 

What He hath given; 
They live on earth, in thought and deed, as truly 

As in His heaven. 

Whittier. 

Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life. — 
Jesus Christ. 

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. — 
Psalm cxvi:i5. 

HE previous chapters of this book have 
been written through blinding tears of 
grief and anguish. And that grief is in- 
tensified as we attempt to describe the 
closing days of Mrs. Farmer's life. We 
say grief and anguish, that is, if her death 
is looked at from the earthly side by her 
loved ones whom she has left; but, when considered from 
the divine standpoint, they were days of glorious triumph 
and effulgence of glory. It is not a matter of surprise that 
a life so victorious and filled with the power and glory of 
God should have such a triumphant close, and we trust that 
the following pages will glorify God and show how a Chris- 
tian can die. 

When Mrs. Farmer returned to Wucheo after vacation 
no one was willing for her to go to her work in Liucheo* 
but she insisted so strongly, and on the ground that she be- 
lieved it was God's will for her and that He would yet 
meet and heal her, that she was allowed to go. In com- 
pany with Miss Landis and a Chinese sister, she made the 
trip up the river with no bad results, and reached Liucheo 
October seventh. 



292 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Our readers will remember, that up to this time Mrs. 
Farmer's disease was intermittent, and she had not felt the 
necessity of going to bed, so went about her work praying 
and trusting God for deliverance. 

She was so happy to be back at her station, and was full 
of praise and song notwithstanding her weak condition. 
She went right on with her home and school duties. She 
had endeavored to reach Liucheo before the fourteenth 
of October, the writer's birthday, and as we have noticed 
above, arrived the seventh. She was full of plans and little 
surprises for celebrating the occasion, which she did, much 
against our protest, as we feared it would be too much for 
her; but she pleaded so hard to be allowed to do a little 
something. The next day she suffered some from the ex- 
ertion. 

Among the last letters she ever wrote was one to the 
faculties and students of the Meridian colleges. It is dated 
October nineteenth, and may be considered as the "swan 
song" of this earnest and devoted servant of God. 

School opened Monday. All the pupils have not returned, some 
moved away and others are at work, and one of our eight-year-old 
pupils died while we were away. I want to tell you about her. 
She was in school about the shortest time of any of the pupils, and 
I felt that the gospel had made about the least impression upon her 
heart. But I was told by a pupil who lived in the same house, that 
the last words she said before passing out were to call my name 
and say, "Hua Si' Nai teaches us about the true God, we worship 
the true God, we worship the true God." 

Who knows but what this little soul is now in His presence. Oh, 
the value of leading the little ones to Jesus, especially since they 
have no one to whom they can look but us missionaries and Chinese 
workers! The work is so great and the workers so few! "Pray 
ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth laborers 
into His harvest." We three people (the fourth one is studying the 
language and can do little else than pray and help in consultation 
regarding the building) here on this station have the work at least 
of six foreign missionaries, and then we have extra work that 
Chinese workers could do if we only had them. So please pray for 
us to be some way greatly multiplied like the five loaves and two 
fishes of old. Perhaps through my long testing He is breaking 
us, especially me, for greater service. If this can be so I gladly 
pass through it all for Him and precious souls. This I do know, 



Ada Beeson Farmer 293 

■"All things work together for good to them that love the Lord and 
them that are called according to His purpose." I know I am that 
person and this affliction will somehow work out for my good and 
His glory. 

Please pray God to send me a good, competent, Spirit-filled head 
teacher for the school. There is one fine Christian and a promising 
worker in school for training. She is over forty, and is willing to 
go anywhere, and, seemingly, to suffer anything for the gospel's sake. 
She was the first to believe in her city and has been the means already 
of leading quite a number of others to Jesus. She knows some char- 
acters and is a good student. Pray for her that she may go deeper as 
she learns more. 

One woman was baptized a few days ago, the first woman in this 
city to come into the church. She is over fifty years old but knows 
some characters and is thinking of coming into the school to study to 
be a Bible-woman. Pray God's will in her life. There is one woman 
coming to assist Miss Landis half a day, that is, do Bible-woman's 
work and study the other half. She is sure to come and two other 
women are expected from near Kweilin to study. Please take these 
five women on your heart and pray for them daily. The Lord's work 
needs them but we want Him to call out His workers. Pray that 
they may be sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost for a holy 
life and power in service. 

The young Mohammedan girl about whom I wrote you last spring 
was greatly blessed and seemed to really come out and trust Jesus for 
salvation, her mother also was nearing the kingdom, though had not 
fully given up Mohammedanism. The persecution began just as we 
were leaving and grew worse after we left until the mother was 
beaten and her house partly torn down, with a refusal to let her live 
there longer. But that passed over and she was allowed to continue 
living there. They stood all this and the Lord met them. When 
we returned the mother asked if the daughter might live in the school 
and study, it was granted. But after all this the old grandmother 
refused to allow her to move into the school for she would not allow 
her to eat pork, nor anything killed by any one except their priest. 
So the poor girl is at home making shoes and bound down by this 
old grandmother. But back of all is Satan, who does not want them 
to come out from Mohammedanism and serve the living Christ. Still, 
pray earnestly that God will yet release these dear ones and keep their 
hearts true, if they are true, and if not, make them so, and yet bring 
them out boldly for Jesus. 

We are still looking to God for a real revival in South China, 
especially in our work. Please continue to pray daily for this. You 
have a responsibility as well as we on the field ; it is also a great privi- 
lege. Let us not fall short in this line, nor any line as to that. . . . 

Oh, that we would quickly girdle the globe with salvation, yea full 
salvation! The people are perishing without it. Do not only sing and 



294 Ada Beeson Farmer 

shout about it, that is easy; but get out, come out, and get at it. 
There is no joy like it though there are hardships attached. "All 
power is given unto me. — Go ye — Lo, I am with you always" is 
still true. Obey and follow at any cost. A great reward awaits you. 
Your sister in His service, 

Ada B. Farmer. 

By the first of November'she had become more aenemic 
and weak, but yet endeavoring to go on until November 8, 
we insisted upon her going to bed, and telegraphed to 
Wucheo for prayer in her behalf. It was very hard for 
her to give up, for she felt that it looked like a lack of faith 
on her part. She continued to decline, first having a bad 
spell followed by one in which she would seemingly im- 
prove for a few days, and then down again, though each 
time weaker than before. 

As it was very difficult to find and prepare such food as 
she relished and that would nourish her, she greatly desired 
Mrs. Weldon Smith, who had been writing to her and ad- 
vising her about her diet, to come to Liucheo if God so 
willed. Mrs. Smith realizing how dangerous Mrs. Far- 
mer's condition was becoming, in company with her hus- 
band came to Liucheo about the second week in December. 
She thought that Mrs. Farmer should be removed from 
Liucheo to a more restful place, for as long as she was in 
the city and near her work, she would plan and think for it 
in spite of all we could do. 

By now her condition had become so precarious that it 
was a question as to whether she could be moved at all. 
But Mrs. Smith being so experienced in nursing the sick, 
felt that she could, by being very careful, remove her to 
Kweip'ing, or possibly Wucheo. A small boat was hired 
and the trip down the river begun. The weather was very 
cold, but the cold air was helpful to Mrs. Farmer so long 
as she was not allowed to take cold. 

The Chinese are very adverse to traveling at night on ac- 
count of the various bands of robbers which infest the 
waterways, but as it was the time of full moon and there- 
fore the nights so bright, by giving them something extra 
in the way of money and appealing to them on the urgency 



Ada Beeson Farmer 295 

of the case, they worked day and night at the oars. The 
second night out from Liucheo when we had reached the 
loneliest and most dangerous stretch of the river, just after 
the evening meal, a band of robbers on the bank of the 
river called the boatman to halt. He and his sailors contin- 
ued to row, when he was told that if he did not stop he 
would be fired upon. At this he called to us in the boat to 
put out all lights and hush talking and to keep still that 
robbers were after us. We immediately put out the lantern 
and knelt in the bottom of the boat in prayer. He then told 
the robbers that he had a corpse on board, and hence the 
reason for traveling so late at night. Chinese robbers, be- 
ing very superstitious about a dead body, told him to go 
ahead and the sailors again pushed on the oars and we 
were soon past that section. It was all done so quickly that 
we hardly realized what had transpired. 

Mrs. Farmer, under the most exciting circumstances al- 
ways possessed a calm and undisturbed spirit, and this in- 
cident did no more to excite her than if it had been only a 
friend hailing us. Our hearts were filled with praise to our 
Father who had saved us from what could have been a bad 
experience; for even had no life been lost and our boat 
only looted, what an awful thing if Mrs. Farmer's blankets, 
shawls, etc., had been taken from her and she exposed to 
the cold, raw, December weather. 

The next evening brought us to Kweip'ing and as Mrs. 
Farmer had developed some fever and had had a pretty 
hard trip, we felt we had better not run the risk of going 
to Wucheo as it would necessitate changing from a river 
boat to a steamer, with all of its inconvenience. On the 
same evening, another incident occurred which showed Mrs. 
Farmer's brave and happy spirit. Having wrapped her se- 
curely in blankets she was placed in a nice rattan chair to be 
carried into the city to the mission home. The boat land- 
ing was a steep declivity and as we bore her most carefully 
up the stone steps, fearing the least jar might do untold 
harm to the badly ulcerated bowels, one of the supports of 
the chair broke, and she fell bodily to the ground. As she 
came in contact with the earth she began singing, "Praise 



296 Ada Beeson Farmer 

God from whom all blessings flow." Again were our hearts 
made thankful, for no harm was done her whatever. Al- 
though she was well wrapped, who knows but the angels of 
God bore her up in their hands lest she should have dashed 
her foot against a stone. Not a sparrow falleth without 
God's knowledge, and the very hairs of our heads are 
numbered. 

After reaching Kweip'ing she lived about three months. 
She did not suffer continuously, but gradually grew weaker 
and weaker until she faded from our grasp. Near Christ- 
mas, beloved parents cabled our transportation and a mes- 
sage to return to America, but she was too far gone to at- 
tempt an ocean voyage, which as we have before seen, 
was most trying to her when well. All the time her faith 
for healing was unwavering, for she firmly believed that 
God would raise her up. 

Christmas day was one of great pleasure to her, and she 
would have us all come into her room and there give our 
Christmas presents and exchange congratulations. She was 
so happy in the Lord, notwithstanding her weak and ema- 
ciated condition, and each day would have us bring in the 
little organ, play and sing some bright and victorious hymn, 
she joining in with her weak voice. How often in the morn- 
ings she would awake with her face bright and beaming, 
and say, "I was awake last night, and Oh, I had such 
a precious time with my Lord, He was so near to me!" 

Only those who have passed this same way can know how 
very difficult it was for us to maintain a cheerful counte- 
nance and pray victorious prayers when the awful convic- 
tion was settling upon our soul that she would never be 
well again, and that God would soon call her to Himself. 
Oh, reader, if you have never seen the supreme object of 
your earthly affection smitten helpless, and dying in your 
arms you do not know anything of that awful grief and 
sorrow which breaks the heart ! 

Her keen insight into human nature told her only too 
plainly the feelings of the writer's heart and it was very 
beautiful and characteristic of her joyous Christian life, 
that on Christmas morning, among the other gifts, she had 



Ada Beeson Farmer 297 

secretly placed a brown thrush, which is a great singer; 
she had had Miss Rolle write a large number of Scripture 
texts, chosen chiefly from the Psalms, each text having a 
reference to praise or song, and with these had covered the 
bird cage; as the other gifts were presented, she had the 
bird brought in and said, "This is God's will for you, to sing 
and praise Him, to rejoice evermore." 

Oh, the days of suspense that followed the Christmas 
holidays, when between hope and despair, we held on to 
God in prayer for her to be spared longer if it could be His 
will! As she had been sick so long, the news had been 
carried to America where little bands and circles of friends 
who loved her, importunately pleaded with God to spare 
her to His work in China. Special meetings of prayer 
were held for her in China, and letters came from all of 
the dear brethren and sisters who gave themselves up to 
prayer and fasting in her behalf. 

And what shall we say of the kindness of those dear 
brethren and sisters who ministered at her bedside those 
last days and hours? Mrs. Farmer had untiringly given 
herself many times in nursing those who were sick, and now 
in her own extreme illness, God repaid her a thousandfold. 
We are sure that our Lord Himself looked down with 
smiles of approval and gratitude, as He saw the little 
coterie of men and women who spared not themselves nor 
anything they had to serve her. The kindness of Mr. and 
Mrs. Weldon Smith, Miss Myra Rolle and Mr. and Mrs. 
Isaac Hess will never be forgotten and we are sure that in 
heaven where such Christlike deeds receive their true reward 
they shall be gloriously recompensed. 

Saturday evening, March fourth, she became a little delir- 
ious, for the first time during her illness, due to a little fever 
and her extreme weakness. We sat at her bedside all night, 
and she was quite bright and more like herself the next 
morning, but with added weakness, as the hemorrhages 
had been more frequent than ever. Those days her faith 
was wonderful and she had us sing to her, "Jesus, O, how 
Sweet the Name," and "Faith is the Victory," both during 
the day and her waking hours at night. At the latter part 



298 Ada Beeson Farmer 

of the week when she became too feeble to sing out loud, 
she would hum these songs in a low soft voice. 

Sunday, March the twelfth the tongue, which had so 
often been used in praising God and blessing others, began 
to fail through sheer weakness and she remained very quiet. 
In the evening, at six o'clock, as we stood about her bed, 
she had a sinking spell and came near going, so much so 
that for a moment all thought she had gone. The pent-up 
grief and anguish was so great that we fell at her bedside 
with a loud cry. She heard it, and as if called back from 
the grave she revived and said to Mrs. Smith standing near, 
"Tell Wilmoth I am not gone, I am here." As it was 
Communion-day and we had already had Communion with 
the Chinese Christians, we gathered around her bed and 
she partook of the Lord's Supper with us. 

The next morning, about six o'clock, as I knelt at her 
bedside her mind and thoughts were quite clear, fully rec- 
ognizing me and understanding what I said to her. 

I asked her if she knew she was going home, and fearing 
lest she might think I meant home to America, (as she 
knew of the cablegram, etc.), I repeated saying, "I mean 
home to be with Jesus." 

She answered, "Yes, yes, I am so happy." 

"Jesus is not going to heal you?" 

She answered, "No, — He is so sweet." 

"And you will wait for me till I come?" 

"Yes," she said. 

"What shall I tell Father Beeson?" 

"Tell him I love him." 

"And mother Farmer?" 

"Tell her I love her more than tongue can tell." 

After mentioning other members of her family by name 
to her, she said, "Tell them I love them all." 

"You will wait for them in heaven?" 

"Yes, yes." 

All the while she was talking her face, although emaci- 
ated by the awful disease, was lighted up with the joy and 



Ada Beeson Farmer 299 

glory of the other world, and she smiled over and over 
again. We then said further to her. 

"Ada dear, you will see our little son." 

"Yes, yes, he is so sweet. — Jesus is so sweet!" 

She then reached up her little thin hands, already cold and 
clammy with the death dew upon them, and putting them 
around my neck, in her weakness drew my head down until 
our lips met in a final farewell kiss. Oh, my friends, if 
ever the sword of grief and anguish pierced my heart, it was 
at that moment when "I fully realized I was bidding her 
farewell until eternity! If God had been willing, how 
gladly would I have joined her pure and sainted spirit in 
its flight from this world ! 

I looked up and asked her, if she knew why I was crying, 
and she said, "Yes, because you love me." 

"Ada, you are not afraid to die?" 

"No, no, no," each time making the "no" more emphatic. 

Each of the missionaries present came to her bedside to 
bid her good-bye, and she recognized them all calling some 
by name. 

As we have seen, she had up to this day maintained a re- 
markable faith for healing, but had at last realized that 
God had some better will and way than that for which she 
and others had prayed. Her faith then seemed to take 
hold of Christ for that abundant entrance into glory which 
He so fully vouchsafed to her. She had in days of health 
often said to us, "I do not want to barely get into heaven, 
but I want an abundant entrance there." As we gathered 
about her singing her favorite hymn, 

Thou Hidden Source of Calm Repose 
it truly was the very vestibule of heaven, and if our eyes 
and ears had not been holden we might have seen and heard 
the angelic choristers as they opened the pearly gates and 
waited to escort her in to the presence of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, thus giving her the abundant entrance she so longed 
for. The writer and others present will never forget the 
sacred and hallowed glory of that hour, and its influence 
will remain with us as long as life shall last. 



300 Ada Beeson Farmer 

She then became quiet, but aroused up once more while 
we were absent from the room, and said to Miss Rolle: 

"It is so bright and so beautiful." 

Miss Rolle asked her saying, "What is it dear?" 

"It is heaven and Jesus," she replied. 

She lingered through the night until the next morning, 
but most of the time in an unconscious state. As we sat 
around her bedside singing, "Thou Hidden Source of Calm 
Repose," and "Jesus, Oh, how Sweet the Name," she 
quietly, without a struggle, breathed her last. So passed 
from earth to glory in heaven one of the bravest and most 
saintly women that ever lived. 

After the body was prepared for burial, the features set 
in a beautiful smile of peace typical of that greater peace 
which her spirit was enjoying in the presence of her Lord. 

The funeral services were a great witness to the heathen 
people of the city. On two former occasions at the death 
of two missionaries with smallpox, it had been necessary to 
have a hurried burial, which in the eyes of the Chinese is 
considered disrespectful to the dead and gave color to the 
evil reports so often circulated about foreigners, that they 
do not care for their dead. Her body lay in state one day 
to give the Chinese Christians and friends an opportunity 
to view the remains before the coffin was closed. 

The Christian women brought many roses and orange 
blossoms, for it was just the beginning of spring when all 
nature was clothing herself in new garments of glory and 
beauty; with these the body was almost covered after it was 
put in the casket. The funeral sermon was preached by 
Mr. Weldon Smith, Mr. Hess assisting in the other parts 
of the service. The little chapel was filled to the utmost, 
there being many heathen present. On Thursday morning 
the Christians all wearing white, Chinese emblem of mourn- 
ing, escorted the casket to the grave. 

The streets were lined with people, and as the solemn 
procession moved out the city gate to the hills beyond, many 
of the heathen people stopped and wondered why such a 
nice funeral should be given to a wife, a woman, and also 
reflected and exclaimed aloud, that after all the "foreign 







i. Mrs. Farmer standing on the right. 

_'. Mrs. Farmer standing on the extreme left of the porch. 

3 and 4. Views of Mrs. Farmer's fresh-made grave. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 301 

devil" had some "heart." She was buried in a beautiful 
spot upon one of the foot-hills of the Western Mountain 
famous as the location of a noted Buddhist monastery. The 
hill overlooks the city, rivers, and surrounding country for 
miles, and there like Sarah of old, when buried in Canaan 
by Abraham, she holds the land for which she gave her 
life, until that glorious advent of Jesus Christ when the 
kingdoms of this world shall all become His. 

In the case of one so faithful in prayer and whose 
prayers prevailed so at the throne of God, we are sure that 
the question if not voiced in words, has at least been raised 
mentally, why did not God grant her the desire of her 
prayers when she had such faith and trust in Him for heal- 
ing? Why did He not grant the same to the great volume 
of prayer which went up everywhere from devout hearts 
and lips in her behalf? 

Oh, how often have hearts in the depths of their sorrow 
and bereavement asked why it could not have been other- 
wise! How many times in the past have we seen those 
whom we felt could not be spared, suddenly taken just when 
they were in the zenith of their noble efforts to bless hu- 
manity. We can not solve these mysteries with our finite 
minds, and for the devout Christian it is enough to know 
that the God he worships is perfectly loving, just, righteous, 
and omnicient, and cares so much for His work and workers 
that He can never do or permit to be done anything but 
what is for their good and His glory. 

Why Mrs. Farmer was thus taken in the prime of life 
when best fitted for her work, and when, seemingly, she 
could be least spared, we do not know. Neither do we 
know why God let Herod stretch forth his hand and slay 
James, and yet send an angel to deliver Peter from prison 
in answer to the prayers of the church. Did not the church 
pray for James, too? Surely, but God did not answer as 
they expected. We might add many other illustrations 
both from sacred and profane history, but all goes to em- 
phasize the truth that our ways are not always God's ways, 
nor our thoughts His thoughts. Because a prayer is not 
answered as we expected, is no proof that the prayer is not 



302 Ada Beeson Farmer 

acceptable to God and prevails with Him. The Christian's 
duty is to pray and believe God, above all to pray that His 
will and highest glory shall be manifested. We give be- 
low two paragraphs which have been of untold comfort 
and blessing to us. The first is from a letter written to the 
author by Reverend Philip Hinkey, a member of the South 
China mission of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, 
a beloved brother in the Lord. Chronologically, this 
letter should have come in the chapter devoted to testimo- 
nials, but as it attempts to comfort the heart by throwing 
some light upon the question raised in the foregoing para- 
graph, we give it here. 

Pehliu, March 2ist, 'n. 

My Beloved Brother Farmer: — "Still he holdeth fast his in- 
tegrity although thou movedst me against him to swallow him up 
without cause." "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give 
thee a crown of life." 

To die trusting is no defeat. Only victors wear crowns. To be 
faithful even unto death, to hold fast one's integrity to the end, 
spells victory and rightfully secures the promised crown of life! 

My beloved brother, it is not defeat as viewed from Heaven's 
standpoint, but victory! I am not puzzled nor perplexed at hearing 
the sad news. 

"Some through faith subdued kingdoms, obtained promises, stopped 
the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge 
of the sword ; some out of weakness were made strong; some women 
even received their dead raised to life again. — But there were others, 
who in spite of their faith were tortured ; yes, and were even tor- 
tured to death, not accepting deliverance; and others because of 
their faith were stoned, were sawn asunder, suffering intensest agony; 
others were left absolutely destitute, being afflicted and tormented 
in every imaginable way; and yet all these others, though not obtain- 
ing promises like some, yet they did obtain an equally good (if not 
better) report through their being faithful unto death. A good report 
through faith which received not, received not the fulfillment of the 
promise which it so firmly believed. 

She is now to be classed among the blessed "Others," a glorious 
train of saints and martyrs, who, through these long centuries, have 
stood for the truth and of whom the world was not worthy. God 
be praised! Alleluia! Amen! 

The next extract is from the pen of Reverend Andrew 
Murray. In his book called "The Holiest of All," com- 
menting upon Hebrews vi.35-38, he says : 



Ada Beeson Farmer 303 

Faith has a two-fold victory. In one case it conquers the enemy 
or the difficulty by securing its removal or destruction. In the 
other, there is no deliverance from the trouble, and yet faith con- 
quers in the power it receives to endure, and to prove that its spirit 
is superior to all that men or devils can do. The triumphs of faith 
are often seen as remarkably in those who obtain no deliverance from 
the threatened evil as in those who do. 

After the mention of the heroes whose faith was rewarded with suc- 
cess, we have here the mention of those, who, in the midst of suffering 
that was not removed, proved that their faith lifted them up above 
all the pains with which earth could threaten them. They were 
tortured, not accepting their deliverance when offered them at the 
price of their faithfulness, that they might obtain a better resur- 
rection. Spiritual and eternal realities were by faith so clear and near 
that they reckoned not the sufferings of this present time worthy to 
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed The triumph 
of faith is seen as much in bearing a temporary defeat as securing a 
victory. The victory of the vanquished is often the highest achieve- 
ment. 

Sometime when all life's lessons have been learned, 

And suns and stars forevermore have set, 
The things which our weak judgments here have spurned — 

The things o'er which we've grieved with lashes wet — 
Will flash before us out of life's dark night, 

(As stars shine most in deepest tints of blue) 
And we shall know that all God's plans were right, 

And that which seemed reproof was love most true. 

And we shall see, that, while we frown and sigh, 

God's plans go on as best for you and me; 
That, when we called, He heeded not our cry 

Because His wisdom to the end could see. 
And e'en as prudent parents disallow 

Too much of sweet to craving babyhood, 
So God, perhaps, is keeping from us now 

Life's sweetest things, because it seemeth good. 

And if sometime, commingled with life's wine 

We find the wormwood, and rebel and shrink, 
Be sure a wiser hand than yours or mine 

Poured out this potion for our lips to drink. 
And if some friend we love is lying low, 

Where human kisses can not reach the face, 
Oh, do not blame the loving Father so, 

But bear your sorrow with obedient grace. 



304 Ada Beeson Farmer 

And you shall shortly know that lengthened breath 

Is not the sweetest gift God sends His friend, 
And that sometimes the sable pall of death 

Conceals the fairest boon His love can send. 
If we could push ajar the gate of life 

And stand within, and all God's working see, 
We could interpret all this doubt and strife 

And for each mystery find a key. 

But not to-day, then be content, poor heart; 

God's plans, like lilies pure and white, unfold ; 
We must not tear the close-shut leaves apart; 

Time will reveal the calyxes of gold. 
And if with patient toil we reach the Land 

Where tired feet, with sandals loose, may rest, 
When we shall clearly know and understand, 

I think that we shall say that "God knew best." 



A LAMENT 

"The parted spirit, 
Knoweth it not our sorrow? 
Answereth not its blessing to our tears?" 

The circle is broken, — one seat is forsaken, — 
One bud from the tree of our friendship is shaken — 
One heart from among us no longer shall thrill 
With joy in our gladness, or grief in our ill. 

Weep! — lonely and lowly are slumbering now 
The light of her glances, the pride of her brow; 
Weep ! — sadly and long shall we listen in vain 
To hear the soft tones of her welcome again. 

Give our tears to the dead! for humanity's claim 
From its silence and darkness is ever the same; 
The hope of that World whose existence is bliss 
May not stifle the tears of the mourners of this. 

For, oh ! if one glance the freed spirit can throw 
On the scene of its troubled probation below, 
Than the pride of the marble, the pomp of the dead, 
To that glance will be dearer the tears which we shed. 

Oh, who can forget the mild light of her smile, 
Over lips moved with music and feeling the while — 
The eye's deep enchantment, dark, dream-like and clear, 
In the glow of its gladness, the shade of its tear. 

And the charm of her features, while over the whole 
Played the hues of the heart and the sunshine of soul — 
And the tones of her voice like the music which seems 
Murmured low in our ears by the Angel of dreams ! 

But holier and dearer our memories hold 

Those treasures of feeling more precious than gold — 

The love and the kindness and pity which gave 

Fresh flowers for the bridal, green wreaths for the grave! 

The heart ever open to Charity's claim, 
Unmoved from its purpose by censure and blame, 
While vainly alike on her eye and her ear 
Fell the scorn of the heartless, the jesting and jeer. 



306 Ada Beeson Farmer 

How true to our hearts was that beautiful sleeper! 
With smiles for the joyful, with tears for the weeper! 
Yet, evermore prompt, whether mournful or gay, 
With warnings in love to the passing astray. 

For, though spotless herself, she could sorrow for them 

Who sullied with evil the spirit's pure gem; 

And a sigh or a tear could the erring reprove, 

And the sting of reproof was still tempered by love. 

As a cloud of the sunset, slow melting in heaven, 
As a star that is lost when the daylight is given, 
As a glad dream of slumber, which wakens in bliss, 
She hath passed to the world of the holy from this. 

— Whither. 



CHAPTER XIX 



Testimonials of Friends and Co- Workers 




None kneiv her but to love her, 
None named her but to praise. 

Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain : but a woman that feareth 
the Lord, she shall be praised. — King Lemuel in Proverbs. 

HIS volume can not be closed without giving 
a chapter in which friends may mingle 
their words of eulogy and praise with 
those of the author. While it is hard to 
eliminate the personal equation of the 
writer's estimate of Mrs. Farmer's char- 
acter, yet we think that after the reading 
of the unsolicited testimonials given below, it will be seen 
that we have not erred very far, if at all, in excessive eulogy 
of one whose life was so pure and good. 

Soon after Mrs. Farmer's death a memorial service was 
held in America at Arcadia, Louisiana, where she had spent 
some years as a schoolgirl. The service took place at the 
Southern Methodist church and a fitting program was ren- 
dered by her old schoolmates living in the town. 

Program. 

Opening song, "The Morning Light is Breaking." 

Prayer. 

Song, "From Greenland's Icy Mountains." 

Paper, by Miss Florence Sutton. 

Song, "Higher Ground." 

Prayer, by Reverend Townsley. 

Paper, by Mrs. Gibbs. 

Solo, by Mrs. B. Capers. 

Address, by Reverend Townsley. 

Song, "Shall We Gather at the River?" 



308 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Miss Susson's paper is given in chapter II of this book, 
and lack of space forbids giving the excellent addresses of 
Reverend Inman Townsley and Mrs. Gibbs. 

At the annual conference of the South China Mission of 
the Christian and Missionary Alliance, which convened in 
July, the summer following Mrs. Farmer's death, a memor- 
ial service was held in honor of her and Mrs. Allward, an- 
other member of the mission who died soon after Mrs. Far- 
mer. The following letter of sympathy in behalf of the 
South China Conference was sent to her relatives: 

We, the members of the South China Conference, here assembled, 
desire to express our heart-felt sympathy to the family of our late 
and very much-beloved sister, Mrs. Ada B. Farmer. We feel the 
loss keenly and miss the presence and influence of her life among us. 

We can not penetrate into the mysteries of God, nor understand 
why he should take from our midst one whose life was so unselfish 
in His service here, and one whom we can so ill afford to spare; but 
knowing, "He doeth all things well," we are resigned to His will 
and say, "Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in Thy sight." 

In the midst of our grief we are comforted by the words, "We 
sorrow not as those without hope," for we know that our dear sister 
will be among those who will rise first to meet our Lord when 
He comes. She lived a beautiful and consistent life among us, and 
was most faithful in her labors for the heathen of dark China, and we 
have no doubt when she met her Saviour face to face, she was 
gieeted with a "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." 

We extend to you, her sorrowing family, our prayerful sympathy 
and commit you to the God of all grace and comfort for consolation. 
"For He maketh sore and bindeth up. He woundeth and His hands 
make whole." — Job v:i8. 

On behalf of the Conference. 

Elizabeth M. Lewis, 
G. L. Hughes, 
Anna L. Charles, 
Mrs. I. L. Hess, 
Minnie D. Jaffray. 

In order to emphasize their love and sympathy for the 
bereaved husband, a separate letter was also prepared in 
behalf of the conference and sent to him. 

Rev. W. A. Farmer, 

Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America. 
Dear Brother Farmer: — We, the members of the South China 
Alliance Mission in Conference assembled, desire to express our 



Ada Beeson Farmer 309 

heartfelt sympathy for you in the taking away of dear Mrs. Farmer. 

We assure you that this is not a formal declaration, but rather a 
tender expression of our sorrow. We as individual members of the 
mission, have already felt the keenness of your affliction but now as 
a body we surround you and whisper to you, that we sorrow with 
you; nay, if possible, we would rather transport ourselves to your 
presence and in silence let you know that as a body of missionaries 
we are one with you in your affliction. 

We are loath to speak, for it is so easy to "Wound with words 
the mourner's ear." Your heart is torn and crushed; so was that of 
your Redeemer. You feel that that void made by the promotion of 
your dear wife can not be filled. Our Lord Jesus knows well what 
an aching void in the heart means, for "He was a man of sorrows 
and acquainted with grief." He alone with His scarred hands can 
bind the broken-hearted; He alone can comfort as none other can; 
He alone can enable you in this hour of trial, "To see the King in 
His beauty and the land of far distances." 

"Hast thou not made a hedge about him," said our Adversary, 
speaking the truth for once. But what a truth! "Nothing ever 
passes that hedge which grace can not utilize and turn to our en- 
richment; nothing which grace will not utilize and turn to gold, 
provided we seek God in our distress, waiting both upon and for 
Him." 

Yes, praise His Glorious Name! 

Not a single shaft can hit, 
Till the God of love see fit. 

And what is more, the dear ones who have preceded us to glory-land 
are not so much separated from us as we sometimes think they 
are. God's word says, "The whole family in heaven and earth," 
not the two families nor the divided family, but "the whole family 
in heaven and earth." 

As some one said "God has given Mrs. Farmer glory, He is giving 
you grace." Yes, we are sure He will give you grace to look up 
and to see the face of Him who never makes a mistake. It was 
when Stephen looked away from the angry mob and the shower 
of stones that he saw Jesus looking down upon him from heaven. 
The Lord has His eye upon you also, brother Farmer, and He is 
only waiting to catch yours that He may sustain, comfort, and 
inspire you as He did Stephen of old. 

We all, as a conference body, commit and commend you to your 
heavenly Father who loves you with an everlasting love, and trust 
in due time to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to China. 



310 Ada Beeson Farmer 

May His seal be upon you in the accomplishment of the work which 

you have undertaken. 

Yours, on behalf of the Conference, 
G. L. Hughes, 
Mrs. I. L. Hess, 
Elizabeth M. Lewis, 
Anna L. Charles, 
Minnie D. Jaffray. 

We also give below the address of Mr. G. B. Carpenter, 
which was delivered at the memorial service in Wucheo. 

In considering the life of our dear sister Farmer, as I was privi- 
leged to know her, I feel I can not render a more fitting appreciation 
than to say she was a REAL MISSIONARY. Spurgeon said, "If 
you were designed by God to be a great missionary and became a 
millionaire, I would be disappointed in you, and if you were fitted 
to be a missionary and you drivelled down and became a king, you 
would not please me." 

The missionary is the highest expression of character of the age. 
His profession is the noblest. He has the enterprise of the mer- 
chant without the narrowing influence of gain; the dauntlessness of 
the soldier without the shedding of blood; the zeal of the explorer, 
but with a higher motive than science; and he is without fear, for 
he believes in a power behind him to which all the power in the 
British Empire is less than nothing; and he is carried forward by an 
enthusiasm with which no earthly passion can be compared, and the 
knowledge that the Power he serves may or may not think his life and 
work worth preserving, makes no more difference to him than it did 
to Gordon at Khartoum, for his fame and reward are not expected 
here. 

To give oneself for one's country is heroic patriotism; to give 
oneself for conscience and fidelity to truth and forsake all, is more 
heroic; but to give oneself for the saving of others, as our dear sister 
did, is the martyrdom of love. It is Christlike, and if we would 
find not solitary stars, but whole constellations of glory, we must look 
for them in the missionary firmament. 

Our dear sister had an intense love for Christ and for those 
Christ died to save. The love of Christ constrained her and was her 
passion. Nothing was too hard, and no cross too great, and it is true 
as brother Farmer wrote of her, "In her passion for souls, she went 
beyond her strength." 

She was faithful unto death. Once convinced of her duty nothing 
could swerve her from it. Her life among us reminds us forcibly of 
two great lessons which if understood, will inspire us to follow her 
as she followed Christ. 

I. Life is brief, therefore should be earnest. So much to do and 
so little done, is the voice of all who have been aroused to the vast- 



Ada Beeson Farmer 311 

ness of life and its brevity. Yesterday, we were children; to-day, 
we are men; to-morrow, what? Life is brief, whether our allotted 
span be ten or three score and ten. I can say of a truth, that our 
dear Mrs. Farmer, "numbered her days and applied her heart to wis- 
dom." Every moment of her life was full of intense activity for 
Christ. 

Coming in on the fast express train one day, the airbrakes were 
suddenly applied, and the train brought to a standstill. While we 
were wondering at it, a railway man across the aisle said, as he looked 
at his watch and then into the night, "The driver is slowing down 
for time." He had been running too fast, and had to wait till time 
caught up. Perhaps you can see Father Time, lame of leg, hobbling 
down the track with his scythe and hourglass, striving to come up 
with the train. Perhaps so, but with us it is the reverse of this. We 
do not need to slow down for time, but rather to open the lever 
wide, scatter sand on the rails, and put on all possible steam, that we 
may by all means keep pace with the flying moments. O, that we 
might stop it! 

Stop it until we accomplish something. Stop it until we have been 
able to go the length and breadth of this province, yea, the whole 
empire, and told them of Christ who is able to save them. Oh, 
that the sun would stand still, as it did over the plains of Gibeon, 
until every man and woman in China had heard the story of Christ! 

The Scriptures ransack all nature to find fitting symbols with 
which to teach us the fleeting character of life. James in his letter 
says, "Life is a vapor appearing for a moment and vanishing away." 
Vapor is but the condensation into visible form of the moisture which 
is everywhere in the air. Perhaps no more unsubstantial thing is 
known in nature. With certain conditions unfavorable to vapor it in- 
stantly vanishes. We can watch it disappearing as it melts back into 
the air. As the vapor, so our life, unsubstantial, evanescent, appearing 
for a moment and then vanishing away. 

2. Life is a part of a divine plan. Our dear sister believed this 
and lived accordingly. Life is full of meaning, full of power; yea, 
glorious, when we realize this. God makes no mistakes. Think of 
the early and untimely death of Stephen. Untimely from the natural 
viewpoint, but not so from God's thought. Notice in the twelfth 
chapter of Acts, that God permitted the death of James the brother 
of John, but sent an angel from heaven to deliver Peter who was in 
like danger. Notice Matthew, iv: 12. "When Jesus had heard that 
John was cast into prison, he departed into Gallilee." It was part of 
the divine plan that John should come when he did, and having fin- 
ished his part in this plan, God called him to Himself. The lesson 
is, that some serve God by dying as did John, Stephen, and James, 
and some serve God by living as did Peter and John, on the Isle of 
Patmos. Some are laid aside from active service, while some are 



312 Ada Beeson Farmer 

kept in it. BOTH SERVE GOD. Shall we not trust Him to dis- 
pose of us in any way His love and wisdom may see best ? 

From a large number of letters of condolence we have 
selected a few and given extracts from them in the follow- 
ing pages. They reveal the appreciation of others of Mrs. 
Farmer's true worth: 

Professor J. W. Beeson, 

Dear Friend and Brother: — One of the children has just 
come in and said, "Papa, Mrs. Ada Farmer is dead." There came 
to my heart a real pang, and yet the word death is a misnomer. 

Such a woman dead? No! No! It is only the translation of a 
fully ripe soul from earth to Heaven, while her life and labor will 
live and bring forth fruit in human souls in this land, as well as 
in heathen China, until God shall say, as far as this globe on which 
she moved as an angel of Christian work is concerned, time is no 
more. 

Just a few days ago, in writing brother Farmer, I could but prayer- 
fully hope for her recovery. Her strong character won my deepest 
appreciation years ago. But since her absence beyond the waters, 
and the accounts of her labors over there, there came a prayer-tic 
stronger than kindred or language. Many, many times I have 
fully known what it meant while absent in body, yet to be present 
in spirit with them. God knows best and He can not err. The 
sequel will some day be shown us that it was for the best. 

Out of a heart of love I can express sympathy as deep as my soul's 
most sacred depths, but I know how powerless at such times is the 
help of man. Our Christ nevertheless craved humanity's help, and 
then in the last extremity went to be alone with the Father. You, 
in the years gone by, have fled many times to Him and He has 
ever proven a present help in the time of need. Many times have 
we found Him together. In the sacredness of our family circle 
you and each of the family and loved ones are to-night especially 
remembered. With the assurance that your sorrows are mine also, 
I am, 

Your friend, 

L. P. Brown. 
Dear Brother Farmer: 

We saw a short notice in the Atlanta Journal yesterday of the 
death of dear sister Farmer, which was confirmed by your mother 
when I phoned about it. 

We have continued daily to hold her and you up in prayer, es- 
pecially her. My heart has been with you all along since we first 
heard last spring of her illness. ... It is the greatest earthly 
loss to a man to lose his wife. The dear Lord knows why these 
things are, we do not. With Job we can say, "The Lord gave and 



Ada Beeson Farmer 313 

the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."' Al- 
though your heart is torn and bleeding, I know you can say what 
Job said, and that the sore trial will not cast you away from your an- 
chorage in Him. 

It seems a strange providence that would afflict and take her away, 
considering she was so much needed and so well qualified for her 
work in China. She was a gifted woman, thoroughly qualified for 
her special work, and of clear convictions, and great faith. Her 
place can not well be supplied, and she will be greatly missed from 
the work there. 

Her devotion to Lizzie, especially during her illness, made me feel 
the deepest gratitude to her and to appreciate her more than I can 
express. She wrote me every day while Lizzie was in danger, which 
was many weeks, and I have many pages of her letters. It is im- 
possible to express what a blessing her letters were to us all. Her 
faithfulness and prayers were used of God in raising Lizzie up from 
that dreadful long sickness. I can never forget her for it. 

I suppose you buried her in China, to await the resurrection of the 
just. I have recently passed through sorrows and have had a bleeding 
heart for many months. I will continue to pray for you as I have you 
on my heart. 

Yours in Jesus' love and service, Ulysses Lewis. 

In answer to a request for some of Mrs. Farmer's let- 
ters to be used in compiling this biography, the following 
was received from Mrs. John Edwards Smith, of Indian- 
apolis, Indiana : 

Our Dear Brother Farmer: 

Your card received this morning, and I gladly comply with your 
request, but am sorry I only have dear Mrs. Farmer's last letter. I 
never had but two or three from her, and after I read them I sent 
them to our daughter and Mrs. Bunger, and they were read at our 
intercessory prayer-meeting. We feel such an interest in our dear 
missionaries and knowing how much a personal letter is enjoyed, we 
hand them around. I will see if I can locate the others, if so, will 
gladly forward. The record of such a life will surely be a great 
stimulant to others, and I shall take a book as soon as they are pub- 
lished. Having known and loved her, I know it would be impossible 
to put her life and work in words, for one must have known her, 
felt the inspiration of her presence, her great magnetism, her gen- 
tleness, and seen the love of Christ in her heart beaming in her 
face. Oh! it was a blessed privilege to know her, and I have often 
praised God for sending her to Anderson and Indianopolis. It 
seems a great mystery why one so loyal to Christ and His work, 
so well prepared and fitted for it, should be so soon called to leave 



314 Ada Beeson Farmer 

if. We can not understand, but some day we will, for we know 
"He doeth all things well," and our hearts go out to you in deep, 
pure sympathy, for one can only imagine how you do, and will, miss 
her. I have been praying very earnestly for sustaining grace for you. 

Also the following from Mrs. Bunger of the same place: 

We were grieved to learn of the death of your dear wife. While 
it is her gain, it is a great loss to you and to all who knew her. I 
learned to love her on one short acquaintance. I will never forget 
how lovely she was in my home, stepping around so gently and lending 
me a helping hand in many little ways. 

I have often thought of the sweet fellowship we had together, 
when we called upon God in the evenings and mornings, as you 
sat at the piano and the dear one by your side, I have often had this 
picture in my mind, and I did get a great blessing, for doing so small 
a part for God's children. . . We hoped the dear Lord would 
spare your precious wife. 

Reverend J. O. McClurkan, president of the Pentecostal 
Mission and pastor of the little flock of friends at Nash- 
ville, with whom Mrs. Farmer worked before going to 
China, paid her a beautiful tribute in "Living Water," the 
organ of the society. We can not give it in full but quote 
enough to show how much she was appreciated. 

We often think of the vast number of people who will be in 
heaven. They have been going there a long time. Heroes from a 
thousand battlefields. Among the number will be found those who 
have suffered the loss of all things for Christ. What a company 
it will be! The history of the church abounds in biographies of 
holy men and women who kept their lamps trimmed and burning, 
toiled, suffered, triumphed, and fell asleep in Jesus. Some of them 
ascended from a gloomy dungeon or a martyr's stake ; others breathed 
their last in lonely mission fields, and some sleep in the bosom of the 
great deep, but their ransomed souls are with God. 

What a thrilling hour that will be when the trumpet shall sound, 
and soul and body of the sainted dead shall be united to meet the 
Lord in one vast assemblage in the air, where all final awards will 
bf- adjusted, and the larger glory revealed! It will be an interesting 
company. Suppose we could attend a meeting here on earth to-day 
with Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, David, Peter, Paul, Augus- 
tine, Catherine of Sienna, Francis of Assisi, Tauler, Luther, Knox, 
Calvin, Wesley, Spurgeon, Moody, with thousands of others just 
as faithful . . . how full of expectancy we would be! Well, we 
are going to just such a meeting. One day we shall look upon this 
mighty host of blood-washed and white-robed saints. No doubt many 
of the most glorious awards will be made to those who were not so 



Ada Beeson Farmer 315 

well known here — obscure and hidden ones whose true worth was 
known to the Master alone. 

Many have gone from our own circle of friends and kinsmen. 
They will constitute no small company, for the average life nowadays 
in some ways touches multitudes. The many whom we have known 
and loved will be in that gathering. First, we think of those of our 
own family who have crossed the mystic river, past beyond the shad- 
ows, and are with the Lord. And then those with whom we have 
been intimately associated in religious activities come before us. 
Often the tie that bound us was very close indeed, but so far as the 
flesh was concerned the rude hand of death broke it, and they are 
gone, but we expect to see them again. 

Among the number will be that of our sister Ada Beeson Farmer. 
She was the second missionary appointed by the Pentecostal Mission 
and went out through the Christian and Missionary Alliance, her 
husband W. A. Farmer, being the first. She was choice material. 
She came to us about the time we were beginning our Bible School, 
and did some of the first teaching, and assisted in the work about 
the place, generally, while preparing to go to China. We might, as 
far as the term is applicable to us mortals, say, she was pure gold. 
She did not shrink from hard work. She was gifted above the ordi- 
nary; was an excellent personal worker, wielding "The sword of the 
Spirit" skillfully. She had splendid social qualities, was deeply 
spiritual, and was mentally well equipped. She went forth to battle 
to the land where her heart had so long been. After perhaps a couple 
of years on the field she and brother Farmer were married and 
labored together amid great difficulties for the evangelization of 
China's millions. 

Who will volunteer to take her place? Not only hers, but to fill 
many other vacancies in that land of darkness? We expect to meet 
her. again when the battles are all over and the soldiers are gathered 
home under the cloudless skies of the New Jerusalem. 

The following telegram was received from Doctor A. B. 
Simpson, the beloved president of the Christian Missionary 
Alliance : 

New York, March 14, 191 1. 
My Dear Brother Beeson: 

A cable has just reached us from South China announcing the 
three sad words, "Mrs. Farmer asleep." I am leaving the telegram 
with brother Funk, but have already wired you without a moment's 
delay. 

I am sailing in a few hours for Great Britain and have only time 
to express to you and the large family circle for myself and our 



316 Ada Beeson Farmer 

board, the deepest sympathy and sorrow in the loss of this precious 
life. May God comfort you all and especially her husband. 
Yours in His love and service, 

A. B. Simpson. 

Reverend G. P. Pardington of the Missionary Training 
Institute at Nyack, New York, voluntarily wrote and asked 
if we would have a chapter in this book devoted to testi- 
monials, and if so, that he might be allowed to contribute 
a few words. 

During the sixteen years of my connection with the Missionary 
Institute, of all the students I have come to know the commencement 
speakers best, because I have had diretcion of the literary part of 
their essays and orations. Mrs. Farmer, at her graduation, Miss 
Ada M. Beeson, was a commencement speaker, and I knew her well. 
As I recall her image, I am impressed by five traits of her character. 

First, she had exceptionally strong mentality. Her keen intellect 
had a wide reach and a firm grip, while her power of expression was 
adequate to her thought. Second, she had a gracious charm of man- 
ner. A child of the Sunny South, she embodied its best traditions 
and finest spirit. Third, she had what Mathew Arnold called, 
"sweet reasonableness." Mrs. Farmer was a woman of strong convic- 
tions and positive views. Yet she knew how to yield her position in 
a way that revealed that she had learned of the meek and lowly 
Master whom she loved and served. His gentleness made her great. 
Fourth, she had a close walk with God. Her religious life was deep 
and strong. Her attractive personality diffused the fragrance of the 
gospel. And fifth, she had a contagious spirit of good cheer. If she 
had dark hours, few, if any, were permitted to know it. As well as 
any one I have known, Mrs. Farmer finely exemplified the little coup- 
let: 

"Give others the sunshine; tell Jesus the rest." 

We also quote from the letters of one or two lady stu- 
dents who were with Mrs. Farmer during her stay at the 
Missionary Training Institute at Nyack. 

Dear Brother Farmer: 

It was with great surprise, about a week ago, that I learned of the 
home-going of your dear wife. I knew she had been very sick, but 
somehow I thought the Lord would raise her up. But evidently 
He saw that it was best to call her up higher. 

She will be missed both in the work and in the home, but I be- 
lieve the sweet fragrance of her life will ever be an inspiration to 
those who have lived and worked with her. I am glad I knew her at 
Nyack. I am glad of the privilege of having labored with her, 



Ada Beeson Farmer 317 

as short as the time was, and I am very glad to have renewed our 
acquaintance again last year in China. 

One thing we know, Ada was ripe for the kingdom. I am so glad 
I had those days with her in China. The only thing I regret is, I 
must have made her extra work in her weak state. I always loved 
and admired her because her life was so consistent. I like the piece 
you wrote for your little paper in China, which was also published 
in the home 'Alliance." It is all true according to my knowledge, 
and one who has known her could say a great deal more. 
Yours in His loving sympathy, 

Ella Morris. 
Professor J. W. Beeson : 

Dear brother: I must tell you how I sympathize with all of her 
lcved ones at the news of Mrs. Farmer's death. What a loss to the 
work; for she was such a capable and in every way desirable mission- 
ary. It was a great blow to me, for while we had not much time for 
social intercourse at the missionary institute, I certainly learned 
to appreciate such a character and such a Spirit-filled life as hers. 
In fact, I looked upon her as a model in every way, of what a child 
of God should be. Oh, isn't it hard to part with such a consecrated 
life, when our old world so much needs their influence. 

Reverend W. A. Farmer, 
Atlanta, Ga. 

Dear brother: It was with heartfelt sorrow that I learned recent- 
ly, of the death of your dear wife whom I knew at the missionary 
institute at Nyack as Miss Beeson. 

Of course we felt at first, that she just could not be spared from 
China, poor China, with its teeming millions shrouded in heathen 
gloom. We had been so rejoiced to know that our fellow-student, 
Miss Ada Beeson, with her deep spirituality, her rare gifts, and her 
winsome personality, was laboring for the Master in China. 

Surely there was never a more efficient missionary than herself; 
none better equipped, for hers was truly the Spirit-filled life. In 
addition to this, she was wonderfully fitted both by nature and edu- 
cation, for this most responsible of positions. In view of all this, 
what a comfort to know that she served under a Leader who never 
makes any mistakes. 

That which impressed us most about our beloved fellow student 
after her deep spirituality, was her sweet unselfishness. Although 
our time was so fully taken up with Bible studies, languages, kinder- 
garten, black-board illustrations, etc., etc., Miss Beeson was ever 
ready to do some little act of kindness, even though it deprived her 
of some of the time which was more precious than gold. 

Yet she never had a moment to waste, apparently. There was 
not a student in our school who devoted himself more assiduously to 



318 Ada Beeson Farmer 

the study, of the Word; who spent the precious time more wisely, 
but my most cherished recollections of her are connected with the 
testimony-meeting at morning prayers. Always prompt in giving 
her testimony, and especially if there seemed to be a slowness on the 
part of others, I can see her now, her face lit up with Heaven's own 
radiance, always giving out some clear-cut joyous testimony; a tes- 
timony that breathed out the power and fragrance that accompany 
the Spirit's presence in the heart. 

May your heart be cheered and strengthened by the memory 
of her beautiful and devoted life here. 

Your sister in Christ, 

Minnie R. Walkup. 

We would like now to give a few extracts from the let- 
ters of the missionaries with whom she labored in South 
China, her co-workers in the vineyard of Christ. 

In a letter to Mrs. Farmer's brother and her family, 
Reverend Isaac L. Hess, superintendent of the South China 
Mission says: 

My Dear Brother: 

You have doubtless ere this received a cablegram announcing the 
home-going of your dear sister, Mrs. Farmer, and also Mr. Farmer's 
letters giving an account of her last lays. As it was my privilege 
to be with her during those days and hours, and feeling so keenly the 
loss we sustain in her home-going, I am constrained to write you to 
extend and express my deepest sympathy in this great sorrow to her 
aged father and family. 

In the passing away of a saint like your sister, sorrow and joy 
are very strangely and wonderfully mingled together. While her 
last days were full of weakness in her body, they were also full of the 
glory of the Lord in her soul. The smile that settled itself upon her 
face after the spirit had fled, was an unmistakable proof that she 
was occupied with her Lord whom she loved more dearly than her 
life. So while we mourn our loss we can not but rejoice in her 
gain. 

Human words and friends are not to be despised, but they fail to 
comfort the grief-stricken heart, but you have the One with you who 
is better, infinitely better, than all human friends, "The Lord is 
nigh unto them that are of a broken heart," Psa. xxxiv:i8, is a word 
of His which came so sweetly to me in the days of my sorrow; may He 
give it to you, too. I am sure the Lord has given "grace and glory;" 
to you the grace as surely as is to her the glory. He loves much those 
whom He trusts with sorrow, and designs some precious soul enrich- 
ment which comes only through the channel of suffering. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 319 

Personally, I loved Mrs. Farmer very dearly. She was a deeply 
spiritual woman, and one who knew how to prevail with God in 
prayer. As a mission, we have sustained a loss which will not be 
easily overcome. Our dear sister had ability above the average, and 
with this a spiritual power which few possessed. Her last days were 
a benediction to us all, and when the time of her departure came, 
to her was granted His sovereign grace, lifting her above the pains 
of death. 

Your brother in the bonds of Christian love, 

I. L. Hess. 
Professor J. W. Beeson, 

Dear Brother: — It is indeed with great sorrow of heart that I 
write this letter of condolence to the friends of our dear sister, the 
late Mrs. Farmer, whose memory I shall ever hold precious. 

I met Mrs. Farmer (then Miss Beeson), for the first time in 
San Francisco nine years ago, when we sailed for South China. We 
soon formed a friendship which increased year by year on the mission 
field, and I felt that in Mrs. Farmer I had a true sister indeed. 
Many times we shared each others joys and trials, and her help and 
comfort were always so sweetly given. The sanctified life was truly 
exemplified in our dear sister, and in her work all her capabilities 
were subject to that sanctification. 

Her life was a most active one, and even during her illness when 
the body was so weak, not only did the mind work but the hands 
as well. About ten days before she passed away Mr. Hess and 
myself were called to Kweip'ing to render any assistance that might 
be required and I can not express my thankfulness to God for allow- 
ing me to be at her bedside during her last hours. Her calm, sweet, 
patient spirit, joyful through all her suffering, was indeed a bless- 
ing and a lesson to us all. She never murmured, but fixed her faith 
and trust in her God, and accepted all as his will for her. 

Her visions of Jesus and Heaven the last days were so real they 
helped to comfort our sorrowing hearts, for we knew that ere long 
she, too, would be enjoying that happiness, and if the faint glimpse of 
it brought such joy, what must the actual realization be! Every day 
as we sat in her room singing one hymn after another, her feeble 
voice mingled with ours, and her whole soul seemed to be in the 
words. Through the day and often through the still hours of the 
night, the low voice, too weak to come up to the regular pitch would 
sing the hymns she loved so well, "Jesus, Oh How Sweet the Name," 
and "Jesus Giveth us the Victory," and many others, and the watcher 
catching the faint tones would take up the strains and help her carry 
it through. 

After the spirit had fled there was such a sweet smile of deep-settled 
peace on her face that was truly beautiful, although the face was so 
thin and wasted. We placed her body in a Chinese casket and put 



320 Ada Beeson Farmer 

wreathes of roses and leaves along each side and at the top and 
bottom, and laid her away until the resurrection morning. 

I feel that a great vacancy has come into my own life in the loss of 
this dear friend, for I admired and loved her very dearly. She was 
true to principle always, and never compromised. 

With kindest regards and deepest sympathy, I remain, 
Yours in the love of Jesus, 

Hattie R. Hess. 

Let me tell you that Mrs. Farmer's life was a distinct blessing 
to me during the short time I was associated with her. I am sure 
she was even a far greater blessing to many others in China as well as' 
America. And her lovely Christian life and ministry still continues, 
praise God, in the sphere of higher experience and service to which 
He has taken her. How rich heaven is becoming to us by reason of 
the precious loved ones passed on before! Hallelujah! 
Yours in love and prayer, 

R. H. Glover. 

The following extracts are from Miss Lewis, whom 
Mrs. Farmer chaperoned on her way to China, and later 
nursed through a severe spell of typhoid fever. She was 
called by Miss Lewis in the way of pleasantry, "Ma Far- 
mer," because Mrs. Farmer looked after her so carefully. 

My Dear Brother Farmer: 

And so her precious sweet spirit has slipped from earth to heaven. 

There is only a thin veil hiding her from our view for a little while — 

only a river between. How happy she is now in the presence of Jesus. 

We all feel the loss so keenly, but we must not question 

God's providence. 

Her place has been left vacant in our mission, and can never be 
filled, but it is God's work and the workers are also His, and He 
knows all about it. Praise His dear Name! We will miss her all 
the time, dear precious "Ma," no more true and tried spirit, no 
more devoted missionary ever trod China's soil. We felt we could 
spare her less than any other, but we bow in humble submission 
to our God and His Divine Will. 

Dear "Ma," she was truly a mother to me, a most devoted friend, 
and I loved her more than I can express. I remember how I used 
to call incessantly for her, and could not bear for her to get out of 
my sight a minute. She was a most self-forgetful, devoted nurse, 
and I felt safer with her by my side. How I shall miss her wise 
counsel and her loving thoughtf ulness ! I shall always love, her 
precious memory. She has been so much to me. Yes, she surely 
was a most extraordinary woman. She "counted not her life dear 



Ada Beeson Farmer 321 

unto herself," but gladly laid it down for lost China! She spared 
not herself, but was a tireless worker. Her place can never be 
filled in our midst. 

My Dear Brother Farmer: 

When we heard of the cablegram announcing the homegoing of 
dear Mrs. Farmer, Jack wrote you to China. I wanted to write 
but it seemed as though I had nothing to say, I could only weep 
and pray for you. 

Just about one month before, we had felt such freedom and vic- 
tory in prayer for Mrs. Farmer, as we twice daily brought her in 
prayer to God, so that the word of her death was a great shock to us. 
Since first we met her, we have always loved her and some way during 
the last few years of our time in South China, you and she had come 
near our hearts, and were very dear to us. 

It seems as though there must be some mistake, that it could not 
be true, that it was not possible we should never see our dear "Mar- 
tha Ada" again on earth, and that she could not be spared. If our 
hearts felt grief-stricken, we know yours was very much more so. 
We have sought to uphold you by prayer daily and many times a 
day, and the gracious God who gave you such a treasure for seven 
years, will comfort your heart and sustain you. 
Your sister in Jesus' love, 

Isabella G. Fee. 

The following are two or three extracts from friends of 
other missions in South China : 

The Reverend Frank Child of the Church Missionary 
Society writes: 

25 Coleman Road, Norwich, England. 
August 1st, 191 1. 
My Dear Farmer: 

Many, many thanks for your letter which reached me here a short 
time since. My dear wife and I were inexpressibly grieved to hear 
of your sad, sad loss, and that we should not, in this life, have the 
privilege of meeting your dear one again. 

We had heard, or rather I had, that Mrs. Farmer had been dan- 
gerously ill and I was going to write to you, when my own illness 
and return home, upset my plans. For you, dear brother, we feel 
the deepest sympathy and sorrow; we who knew how united you 
both were in closest bonds of love and fellowship in God's work, can 
understand something of what your loss means to you. Many times 
our hearts have ached for you in your sorrow, and we trust and pray 
that in God's mercy you may daily receive such comfort from the 
Lord himself, as shall enable you to overcome the anguish of your 
loss. 



322 Ada Beeson Farmer 

Very sympathetically did we read the article in the "South China 
Tidings," and with all our hearts corroborated every statement made 
there by the writer. We shall certainly never forget her; we re- 
garded her as the most saintly and true-hearted lady missionary it 
has been our lot to meet, and the memory of her sweet and beautiful 
character can never leave us. That happy Christmas, 1904, spent 
with you both in P'ingloh, will always be a sweet and happy memory. 

Surely, brother, never did bereaved husband have more cause to re- 
joice in the inspiration and the example of the life of his departed 
wife than you, and though at times the awfulness of your loneliness 
will obtrude itself upon you, still, I am sure, the thought of her 
grand life, her victorious death, will ever be a wonderful help and 
cause of rejoicing. We shall look forward to the publication of Mrs. 
Farmer's biography and obtain what will be, I am sure, a sweet mem- 
orial of her. May the rest and quiet of home bring peace and new 
health to you, dear brother, and may God use your pen to His glory. 
Yours, ever affectionately, 

Frank Child. 

From Mrs. Louis Byrde of the same mission: 

213 Poyang Road Kuling, Kiukiang. 
April 5th, 191 1. 
My Dear Mr. Farmer: 

It was a great shock to hear of dear Mrs. Farmer's home-going, 
in a letter which came yesterday. 

How much you will miss your dear wife! Her deep whole- 
hearted consecration to God and His work was a real help to me 
when I was staying in the home in 1903. We had some precious 
times of prayer together on Sunday mornings, and at other times. It 
was so characteristic of her that she would rather go to your station 
than remain on in Wucheo last autumn. She certainly put God first. 
I do not know how to express my deep sympathy in your great 
loss. God's ways are inscrutable but always ways of love. . 
What joy for your dear one now in the presence of the King, and 
yet nearer to you than ever in life. With all loving sympathy. 
Yours, very sincerely, 

E. Constance Byrde. 

Mrs. E. R. Monroe, a much-beloved friend and sister of 
the Oriental Missionary Society. 

Cincinnati, Ohio. 
May 2nd, 191 1. 
Dear Brother Farmer: 

We just reached Cincinnati last night and received your letter 
dated March 7th, and oh, how our hearts ached for you. We had 



Ada Beeson Farmer 323 

had no direct word from you in regard to sister Farmer's condition 
for a long time, but we kept hoping she was getting better. 

We had a meeting at Ferndale, Washington, up near the Canada 
line, and there was a preacher there who was a Baptist. He was 
very much enthused about missions, and of course in telling him 
about the conditions in China, we told him about brother and sister 
Farmer and how our hearts had been knit together. Just the very 
next day as he was calling on us, he said, "This sister Farmer that you 
spoke of, was a sister to the Beeson brothers, was she not?" and we 
said "yes," and he said "She is dead." I can not begin to tell you 
how it shocked us. I just sat down and wept and said it can not 
be true! Martha Ada is not gone! There must be some mistake! 
And he went right down to his home and brought up the paper and 
I read the account written by her own brother and know it must be 
so. Dear brother Farmer, how our hearts do ache for you, but at 
such a time as this words are so feeble. We only pray the Lord to 
comfort you and to give you grace in this, the greatest trial of your 
life. 

I did love Martha, and it will be so lonely to be back in China 
and to know that she will not be with us. But it is only a little 
while, and we shall be with her. The only thing I regret is that 
we did not have you both with us last summer all the time. Oh, 
if we had only known and looked into the future. I would not 
have thought of my own physical condition or anything else, but it is 
gone by now and can not be recalled. But I am glad we had her 
the few days, anyway. You remember the typhoon signals were up 
at Hongkong and she and sister Lewis could not go on the island 
as soon as they expected. 

We are in a world of changes. I have the collars and cuffs, the 
last gift of sister Martha to me. I hardly want to wear them. Dear 
soul, while she was so sick and miserable in bed, yet her loving hands 
made those collars for me that I might have them to wear. But our 
loss is her gain. How sweet to know that she is with Jesus! "We 
sorrow not as those who have no hope." 

Your sister in Christ, 

Minnie Monroe. 

From Miss Pierce of the same mission. 

Dear Brother Farmer: 

I received your letter a few days ago, and was so thankful to hear 
of the victory and triumph of our dear sister's home-going. The 
news of her death was a blow to me. I learned to love her in the 
short time I knew her. Those few days that she spent with me last 
fall, after brother and sister Monroe left, she was a real blessing 
to me and I am so glad she stayed with me, and I learned to know 
her better then. 



324 Ada Beeson Farmer 

The first morning after they left, she prayed at our family worship 
and the Lord blessed her and gave her liberty in prayer and I was 
blessed and strengthened for the burden I was just taking up. The 
memory of her patient, sweet, self-forgetful life is a blessing to me 
now. We can go to her but she can not come to us. May we live 
so that our homegoing will be a triumphant one. I don't want to 
"just slip inside the gates," as some folks say, but go sweeping through 
the gates washed in the blood of the lamb. 
Your sister in Christ, 

Phoebe J. Pierce. 

We had thought of closing this book with an appeal to 
the young men and young women of America but already 
we have filled up all extra space. And again if the needs 
of Kuangsi given in Chapter VI and the strong appeals of 
Mrs. Farmer in her addresses in Chapter XV do not touch 
the hearts of those who read the life of this devoted mis- 
sionary, we feel nothing we could say would avail. 

Only one life have I to live 

Upon this earth below; 
Only one chance to show to Christ 

The love I to Him owe. 

What if this little life of mine, 

Which Christ so dearly bought, 
Is lived in sordid selfishness, 

For vanity and naught? 

What if it fails to realize 

The plans divinely laid, 
By substituting those of friends, 

Or schemes which self has made? 

What fruit can such a life produce 

But bitter tears and grief? 
The harvest of an ill-sown life 

For which there's no relief. 

But, if in God's appointed way 

And filled with light divine, 
Some darkened spot of earth may see 

The Christ within me shine; 

'Twere not in vain to thus have lived, 

And suffered toil and pain; 
For though I pass from earth away, 

My life will yet remain. 



Ada Beeson Farmer 325 

Remain forever in the lives 

Transformed by saving grace, 
Because my life was lived for God, 

And in God's time and place. 

So God and conscience bid me rise, 

And with a purpose true, 
Live for Christ my very best, 

Doing all that I can do. 

What praise and glory at that day, 

When shining as the sun, 
I hear Him saying unto me, 

"Well done, thou faithful one!" 

Wilmoth A. Farmer. 



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